Crystal structure of human alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides the three-dimensional structure of human α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) protein. This crystallographic information is useful in the identification and development of novel binding compounds of NAGLU, NAGLU mutants, for example, those associated with Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)), and other NAGLU family members (family 89 α-N-acetylglucosaminidase) which may modulate the activity and/or stability of mutated NAGLU. Such compounds may be useful for the treatment of Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/366,694, filed Jul. 22, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder. Sanfilippo syndrome type B caused by deficiency of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU), one of the enzymes required for the lysosomal degradation of the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate. Heparan sulfate is normally found in the extracellular matrix and on cell surface glycoproteins. NAGLU degrades heparan sulfate by hydrolysis of terminal N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminides. The enzyme deficiency leads to the accumulation of heparan sulfate in various organs. The incidence of Sanfilippo syndrome type B is about 0.4 per 100,000 births. Sanfilippo syndrome type B is biochemically characterized by the lysosomal accumulation and urinary excretion of heparan sulfate. The disease initially manifests as aggressiveness and hyperactivity in humans between the ages of 2 and 6 years, later progressing to mental retardation and CNS degeneration, and ultimately death in early adulthood.

Sanfilippo syndrome type B displays wide clinical variability that is likely caused by a high degree of molecular heterogeneity of the NAGLU gene, with more than 100 different mutations in the naglu gene, ranging from small deletions and insertions to nonsense and missense mutations, that have been identified to date. Biochemical studies have confirmed the deleterious effects of many of these mutations (Yogalingam et al. (2001) Hum Mutat 18:264-281; Beesley et al. (2005) J Inherit Metab Dis 28:759-767; Beesley et al. (1998) J Med Genet 35:910-914; Emre et al. (2002) Hum Mutat 19:184-185; Tanaka et al. (2002) J Hum Genet 47:484-487; Tessitore et al. (2000) Hum Genet 107:568-576; Schmidtchen et al. (1998) Am J Hum Genet 62:64-69; Bunge et al. (1999) J Med Genet 36:28-31; Weber B, et al. (1999) Eur J Hum Genet 7:34-44, and referenced in Table 4). Despite having been cloned over ten years ago and having been studied for more than twenty years, no structural or mechanistic data for mammalian NAGLU have been obtained, hindering the development of potential therapeutic strategies to treat patients suffering from mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). Treatment today is largely supportive. There is currently no cure for Sanfilippo syndrome type B.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Many diseases are thought to be associated with protein misfolding, such as cystic fibrosis, amyloidoses, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, or protein-destabilization, such as Gaucher disease and Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B), which are autosomal-recessive lysosomal storage disorders. Sanfilippo syndrome type B mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) is caused by impaired activity of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU). The impaired activity of NAGLU is caused by protein destabilizing mutations in the gene for naglu. More than a hundred mutations are known for NAGLU. However, very few of these mutations affect amino acid residues in the active site of the enzyme. Most of the disease-causing mutations occur throughout the protein and lead to an unstable NAGLU protein form that is either degraded in the lysosome, where NAGLU normally functions, or the unstable, mutated protein fails to exit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Enzyme replacement therapy using injections of the normal enzyme may under certain circumstances alleviate some of the symptoms associated with disease. However, the injected enzyme does not necessarily reach every affected organ system (e.g. passing the blood-brain barrier) and such treatment is usually difficult and very expensive. Before the present invention, no structural information was available for NAGLU, largely due to the difficulty of generating enough pure homogeneous protein for structural studies and to the difficulties in generating crystals of sufficient quality for X-ray diffraction studies given heterogeneous glycosylation of the protein. Recently, Ficko-Blean et al. (2008) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 105(18):6560-6565 reported the crystal of the protein structure of a bacterial homolog of NAGLU, CpGH89, which shares about 30% sequence identity with NAGLU. The structure of the bacterial homolog provided some understanding of the enzymatic function of NAGLU. However, the atomic level structural information of the human form (NAGLU) had not been obtained before the present invention. This information is crucial for understanding the effects of pathogenic mutations on the activity of this important enzyme in humans and provides structure-function relationships that allow for the design of novel therapeutic strategies to treat mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B).

Aspects of the invention are based at least in part on the crystallization and determination of the structure of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase and the identification of active portions or fragments of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (collectively herein referred to as “NAGLU”) that can be utilized in developing therapeutics. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying or designing compounds that bind NAGLU using the structural information provided herein. In other embodiments, the invention provides methods of crystallizing NAGLU and methods of expressing and purifying NAGLU. In certain embodiments, the invention provides isolated α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) having altered glycosylation patterns as compared to native NAGLU. In certain embodiments, the invention provides nucleic acids (including vectors) encoding NAGLU and host cells expressing NAGLU. The atomic coordinates provided herein for NAGLU and the three dimensional structural models that may be generated using the atomic coordinates provided herein can be useful for the identification, characterization and/or molecular modeling (design) of NAGLU binding compounds that stabilize the NAGLU protein to increase or restore (at least partially) NAGLU enzymatic activity in cells that have reduced or missing NAGLU enzymatic activity. In certain embodiments, the binding compound comprises chemical or biological chaperones. NAGLU binding compounds may be useful to treat Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B) in a subject having the disease and being in need of such treatment. Such therapies involving chaperoning of NAGLU may be as effective as proposed gene therapy, easier to implement, and/or more cost effective. NAGLU binding compounds may also be useful for other applications, such as scientific research, e.g., as stabilizing agents in crystallography. Some uses may involve small-molecule chaperoning of NAGLU, for example, in vitro. For example, one therapeutic approach in treating MPS III-B involves enzyme replacement therapy, where it is proposed to inject isolated or recombinantly produced wild-type NAGLU into subjects suffering from Sanfilippo syndrome type B. Some uses may involve biological chaperoning of NAGLU by, for example, binding or linking NAGLU to an amino acid sequence such as, for example, an antibody or fragment thereof. Such chaperones may be used to direct and/or shuttle the NAGLU binding compound to a particular location and/or target, such as across the blood brain barrier and/or for takeup into a lysosome. NAGLU binding compounds as described herein may be used to stabilize isolated or recombinantly produced wild-type NAGLU, which may be relatively unstable, both during purification/manufacture and in storage. It is known in the art that injected human proteins can cause an immune responses induced by misfolded proteins in the preparation (Maas et al. (2007) J. Biol. Chem. 282:2229-2236). NAGLU binding compounds as identified using the atomic coordinates provided herein may be included in the manufacture and storage of NAGLU to reduce or eliminate these problems. Combining the NAGLU binding compound with the isolated NAGLU enzyme during treatment may also improve in vivo stability and/or bioavailability, and may reduce the need for frequent dosing.

Aspects of the invention relate to methods of identifying a NAGLU polypeptide binding compound. Such compounds may be for example computationally identified using the atomic coordinates set forth in Table 3 and displaying the atomic coordinates to form a three-dimensional structure of the NAGLU polypeptide. Three-dimensional structures of NAGLU variants, such as NAGLU mutants comprising amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication that are associated with or lead to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B), such as provided in Table 4, may also be modeled using the three-dimensional structure based on the atomic coordinates provided herein as a template. NAGLU binding compounds may be small molecules and may act as chemical chaperones, having a stabilizing effect on NAGLU. NAGLU binding compounds may bind to the active site of NAGLU, for example as an inhibitor, which may be a reversible inhibitor, or as substrate. NAGLU binding compounds may also bind outside of the active site of NAGLU (exosites). Exosites that are suitable for NAGLU stabilization may comprise a mutation (e.g. substitution, deletion or duplication) that is associated with or leads to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). Suitable exosites may also be adjacent or in close proximity to NAGLU mutations. Proximity may be determined based on either the primary structure, secondary structure or tertiary structure of the polypeptide. Binding compounds may be designed in silico and may be designed from a known compound. Binding compounds may be tested in vitro or in vivo for their ability to bind to the NAGLU polypeptide, to stabilize the NAGLU polypeptide and/or to modulate the enzymatic activity of the NAGLU polypeptide. For example, biological assays may be used to determine if the binding compound a) modulates the enzymatic activity, b) modulates the stability, and/or c) modulates intracellular trafficking of a mutated NAGLU polypeptide when bound to the mutated NAGLU polypeptide compared to a mutated NAGLU polypeptide that is not bound by the chemical chaperone. Suitable binding compounds may be selected based on their ability to increase the activity, stability, or intracellular trafficking of mutated NAGLU polypeptide. Any of the aforementioned methods may also be suitable to identify drug candidate test compounds for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B).

Aspects of the invention relate to computer-assisted methods for identifying potential NAGLU polypeptide binding compounds, using a programmed computer comprising a processor, a data storage system, an input device, and an output device. Such methods may involve, for example, a) inputting into the programmed computer through an input device data comprising the atomic coordinates of a subset of the atoms generated from a complex of NAGLU and a binding compound, thereby generating a criteria data set; b) comparing, using the processor, the criteria data set to a computer database of chemical structures stored in the computer data storage system; c) selecting from the database, using computer methods, chemical structures having a portion that is structurally similar to said criteria data set; and d) outputting to an output device the selected chemical structures having a portion similar to said criteria data set. Such methods may also be employed using computationally represented the three-dimensional models that include altered structural information, wherein one or more of the locations of known NAGLU polypeptide amino acid mutations that are associated with or lead to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) as set forth in Table 4 are modeled into the structure that is based on the atomic coordinates provided in Table 3, or a suitable subset thereof. NAGLU variants, such as NAGLU homologs or orthologs may also be modeled into the structure that is based on the atomic coordinates provided in Table 3, or a suitable subset thereof. The aforementioned computer-assisted methods may be used to identify potential NAGLU variant polypeptide binding compounds. Aspects of the invention relate to computer readable media comprising the atomic coordinates for a NAGLU polypeptide (e.g. as set forthin Table 3) or a subset thereof, optionally further comprising programming for displaying a molecular model of the NAGLU polypeptide, programming for identifying a chemical chaperone that binds to the NAGLU polypeptide and/or further comprising a database of structures of drug candidate test compounds. Such test compounds may, for example, be based on known inhibitors, activators or substrates of lysosomal glycosidases. Aspects of the invention relate to computers comprising any of the afore-mentioned computer-readable media, as well as computer systems comprising a memory comprising x-ray crystallographic structure coordinates defining the NAGLU polypeptide as set forth in Table 3 and a processor in electrical communication with the memory. The processor may generate a molecular model having a three dimensional structure representative of at least a portion of said NAGLU polypeptide, or a variant thereof.

Aspects of the invention relate to methods of obtaining a purified recombinant NAGLU polypeptide with an altered glycosylation pattern compared to native NAGLU. NAGLU polypeptides comprising amino acids 24-743 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 contain six asparagine (N) residues N261, N272, N435, N503, N526, and N532 that are suitable for N-linked glycosylation. The methods provided may involve a) expressing a recombinant NAGLU polypeptide in a host cell (for example a mammalian host cell), b) treating the host cell with a glycosidase inhibitor (for example a mannosidase inhibitor, such as kifunensine), and c) purifying a NAGLU polypeptide (e.g. using chromatographic methods, such as column chromatography). In certain embodiments, the NAGLU polypeptide is secreted from the mammalian cells and may be purified from the culture medium. Purified or isolated NAGLU polypeptides may comprise the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 and further, the amino acid sequence may comprises one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or additions as set forth in Table 4 compared to wild-type human NAGLU amino acid sequence. The invention also provides NAGLU polypeptides with altered glycosylation patterns, one of such is NAGLU-kif, which is purified or isolated NAGLU polypeptide expressed in a host cell that was treated with kifunensine.

Further aspects of the invention relate to crystalline forms of NAGLU polypeptide, such as those having a crystal that is characterized with space group P6₃ and has unit cell parameters of a=b=205.66 Å, c=78.69 Å or a=b=207.5 Å, c=79.6 Å, or a=b=205.13 Å, c=78.44 Å and bond angles of α=β=90°, γ=120°. These crystals may diffract x-rays for the determination of structure coordinates to a resolution of between approximately 2.4 Å and approximately 3.5 Å and can have different sizes, such as, for example, crystals of a size of approximately 100×20×20 micron or crystals of a size of approximately 150×50×50 micron, or other sizes. Further, the invention provides methods for obtaining a crystal. These methods may involve the afore-mentioned production and purification methods and further involve concentrating a solution of purified NAGLU polypeptide to a polypeptide concentration at which the NAGLU polypeptide precipitates and forms crystals. The NAGLU polypeptide concentration in solution at which the NAGLU polypeptide precipitates and forms crystals may be about 0.5 mg/ml, about 1 mg/ml, about 1.5 mg/ml, or about 2 mg/ml. Aspects of the invention further provide methods for cryoprotecting crystals.

The invention further provides a vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence of NAGLU as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5 and host cells that comprise a NAGLU expression vector.

All references cited herein, including patents, published patent applications, and publications, are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

DEFINITIONS

Accessory binding site: The term “accessory binding site” comprises any binding site other than the active site. An “allosteric binding site” is an accessory binding site which facilitates a change in the conformation and/or activity of the enzyme upon being bound by an allosteric effector. Accessory binding sites may be identified by solving substrate/product bound crystal structures and comparing the obtained structures with the structure of the apo enzyme described herein.

Active site: The active site of an enzyme refers to the catalytic site of the enzyme (i.e., where the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme occurs). The structure and chemical properties of the active site allow the recognition and binding of a binding compound or substrate. The active site typically includes residues responsible for the binding specificity (e.g., charge, hydrophobicity, and/or steric hindrance) and catalytic residues of the enzyme. The term “active site,” as used herein, comprises, for example, the following sites in NAGLU: the site where degradation of heparan sulfate occurs (e.g., heparin sulfate), particularly binding sites for N-acetylglucosamine (NAG). In certain embodiments, the active site may be defined as consisting of three regions: the entrance to the active site, the substrate binding site, and the catalytic core. The entrance to the NAGLU active site is at the cleft between domains II and III. Some of the residues found to be at the entrance are H₂₇₀, Q₃₅₅, H₃₅₆, Q₃₅₉, R₅₁₀, and R₅₁₉. Further past the entrance to the active site of NAGLU is the substrate binding site. The core of the NAGLU active site is defined by residues N₁₃₄, C₁₃₆, Y₁₄₀, W₂₀₁, M₂₀₄, W₂₆₈, N₃₁₅, E₃₁₆, W₃₅₂, L₃₈₃, L₄₀₇, F₄₁₀, E₄₄₆, H₅₁₂, W₆₄₉, I₆₅₅, and Y₆₅₈. These residues are located within 5 Å of the product molecule (N-acetylglucosamine) as it was modeled in the active site. H₅₁₂ may occur in multiple conformations. The three-dimensional structure of the active site of human NAGLU is provided by the atomic coordinates listed in Table 3 and atomic coordinates for the active site are provided in Table 5.

Amino acid residues in peptides shall herein after be abbreviated as follows: phenylalanine is Phe or F; leucine is Leu or L; isoleucine is Ile or I; methionine is Met or M; Valine is Val or V; serine is Ser or S; proline is Pro or P; Threonine is Thr or T; Alanine is Ala or A; Tyrosine is Tyr or Y; histidine is His or H; glutamine is Gln or Q; asparagine is Asn or N; lysine is Lys or K; aspartic acid is Asp or D; glutamic Acid is Glu or E; cysteine is Cys or C; tryptophan is Trp or W; arginine is Arg or R; and glycine is Gly or G. For further description of amino acids, see Proteins: Structure and Molecular Properties by Creighton T. E. (1983) W. H. Freeman & Co., New York, incorporated herein by reference.

The term “altered glycosylation pattern” or “altered glycan pattern” refers to a glycan pattern on a protein which is different from that of a native protein. A polypeptide exhibits an altered glycan pattern when one or more monosaccharide units that are part of the glycan structure on this polypeptide differ from that of a native protein. For example, the native polypeptide may exhibit a complex glycan (e.g., having branched glycans with terminal galactosyl and/or sialyl residues). A polypeptide having an altered glycan pattern may be a polypeptide exhibiting hybrid glycans, high mannose glycans, or no discernable glycan structure. It should be appreciated that the converse also applies, e.g. the native protein is non-glycosylated, while the protein having an altered glycosylation pattern is glycosylated.

Atomic coordinates: The term “atomic coordinates” refers to mathematical coordinates derived from mathematical equations related to the patterns obtained on diffraction of a monochromatic beam of X-rays by the atoms (scattering centers) of a protein molecule in crystal form. The diffraction data are used to calculate an electron density map of the repeating unit of the crystal. The electron density map is then used to establish the positions of the individual atoms within the unit cell of the crystal. The coordinates can also be obtained by means of computational analysis.

Binding compound: As used herein, a “binding compound” refers to a compound which reversibly or irreversibly binds to NAGLU. In certain embodiments, the binding compound binds in an active site of NAGLU. A binding compound may be an inhibitor of NAGLU (i.e., eliciting inhibition or reduction in enzymatic activity), an activator of NAGLU (i.e., eliciting an increase in enzymatic activity), a stabilizer (i.e., may elicit a change in stability of NAGLU). Inhibitor compounds can, for example, be substrate analogs (e.g., heparin sulfate analogs derived from heparan sulfate analog libraries produced chemicoenzymatically or semi-synthetically from heparin (Yates et al., J. Med. Chem., 2004, 47(1):277-280) or synthetic heparan sulfate analogs (Ikedaa et al., Carbohydrate Res., 2008, 343(40:587-595)). A stabilizer compound can be, for example, a reversible inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the binding compound binds to a site of a mutated NAGLU that has an amino acid sequence that is different from that of wild-type NAGLU. Such changes may result in an altered stability of the mutated NAGLU or an altered intracellular localization. The binding compound, such as a chemical chaperone, may elicit stabilization of mutated NAGLU by stabilizing the conformation of the enzyme. As a consequence, in certain embodiments, such stabilized mutated NAGLU may not undergo rapid degradation, may have higher enzymatic activity, or may be localized in the correct intracellular compartment as compared to the non-stabilized form.

Biological chaperone. As used herein, the term “biological chaperone” refers to a chaperone that comprises or consists of a biomolecule, for example, a protein or a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, a biological chaperone is a protein that stabilizes, assists in the folding or unfolding and/or the assembly or disassembly of another molecule or macromolecular structure, for example, of a protein or nucleic acid, or a molecule or molecule complex comprising a protein or a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, a biological chaperone protects a molecule, for example, a protein or nucleic acid molecule, from undesired association or binding until a desired binding/association partner is available or a certain folding state has been achieved. Typically, a biological chaperone is not included in the mature structure, for example, the folded protein, that it stabilizes, or that it assists in the assembly, disassembly, folding, or unfolding of Biological chaperones are well known to those of skill in the art and include, but are not limited to, proteins, polypeptides, antibodies (e.g., human antibodies, mouse antibodies, camelid antibodies, shark antibodies (e.g., IgNARs) or fragments thereof), and alternative protein scaffolds, for example, scaffolds with dual binding domains, fibronectin type III domains, or designed ankyrin repeat modules. Additional biological chaperones are well known to those of skill in the art, and the invention is not limited in this respect. For a description of some non-limiting examples of biological chaperones, see, e.g., Shohei Koide, Engineering of recombinant crystallization chaperones, Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 2009 August; 19(4):499-57, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Chemical chaperone: The term “chemical chaperone” as used herein refers to non-proteinacious chaperones, such as small molecules that function as chaperones, for example, to protect a nascent polypeptide chain from undesirable associations in the cellular environment until proper folding is completed (e.g., stabilizing the transition state of protein folding or a high-energy folding intermediate thereby increasing the rate of folding), to stabilize an already folded polypeptide by binding to it and/or to protect the folded polypeptide against stress, such as thermal denaturation and proteolytic degradation. Chemical chaperones can be non-specific, such as, for example, glycerol and trehalose, which can bind to and stabilize a large number of proteins through non-site specific binding. Specific chemical chaperones are designed specifically bind to a desired target polypeptide. Chemical chaperones may associate and stabilize the target polypeptide through a variety of chemical interactions, such as electrostatic, van der Waals, and hydrogen bonding (Ringe, D. (2009) Journal of Biology 8:80).

By “choosing” is meant picking a chemical or biological compound from a chemical or biological library or commercially available source.

By “design” or “designing” is meant to provide a novel molecular structure of, for example, a compound, such as a small molecule, a polypeptide, amino acid, nucleic acid or fragments thereof that has desired properties or characteristics.

The term “glycan” refers to a class of carbohydrates consisting of a number of monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bonds that may be attached to a glucoconjugate, such as a glycoprotein, a glycolipid, or a proteoglycan. Glycans may be unbranched or branched and may comprise one, two, or more kinds of monosaccharides.

By “identify” or “identifying” is meant to determine a condition, compound, polypeptide, amino acid, nucleic acid and/or variations or fragments of such, that corresponds to or exhibits a desired characteristic or property.

The term “modulate,” as used herein, means to increase or decrease NAGLU enzymatic activity and/or stability.

NAGLU (α-N-acetylglucosaminidase): As used herein “NAGLU” refers to α-N-acetylglucosaminidase and/or fragments thereof, for example, human native (naturally occurring) α-N-acetylglucosaminidase and/or fragments thereof, wild-type α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (SEQ ID NO.: 1) and/or fragments thereof, and any structural modifications thereof. Structural modifications include any additions, deletions, and/or substitutions to the native NAGLU amino acid sequence, of bound glycans, such as N-glycans, and/or of coordinating solvates, hydrates, or non-covalently bound ligands/substrates (e.g., heparan sulfate). Such structurally modified NAGLU are referred herein also as “NAGLU variant” or “NAGLU variants.” As used herein, a “variant” of NAGLU is a polypeptide which contains one or more modifications to the primary amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring NAGLU polypeptide. Structurally modified NAGLU or variant NAGLU include NAGLU that comprise one or more amino acid additions, deletions, and/or substitutions that are associated with mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). Such structurally modified NAGLU are referred herein also as “NAGLU mutant(s)” or “mutant NAGLU.” In certain embodiments, variant or mutant NAGLU may have altered function relative to the polypeptide of the unmodified (naturally occurring) or wild-type amino acid sequence. Other structurally modified NAGLUs include members of the family 89 glycoside hydrolases (α-N-acetylglucosaminidases), such as NAGLU homologs or orthologs from the same or different species. Known NAGLU homologs or orthologs are summarized in Table 10 and can also be found in CAZy (www.cazy.org/GH89_all.html). Forty-eight NAGLU homologs and orthologs have been reported: 30 bacterial and 18 eukaryotes. Such NAGLU family members and NAGLU orthologs are, for example, bacterial α-N-acetylglucosaminidases. In one embodiment, the bacterial α-N-acetylglucosaminidase is CpGH89 of Clostridium perfringens (SEQ ID NO: 2). In certain embodiments, NAGLU refers to eukaryotic NAGLU, including plant (e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, Oryza sativa, Zea mays), insect (e.g., Drosophila melanogaster), and mammalian (e.g., Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Bos taurus). In certain embodiments, NAGLU refers to mammalian NAGLU and/or a mammalian NAGLU fragment. In certain embodiments, NAGLU refers to human NAGLU and/or a human NAGLU fragment. In certain embodiments, NAGLU variants include polypeptides that exhibit alterations in posttranscriptional and/or posttranslational processing. In certain embodiments, such posttranscriptional or posttranslational processing includes glycosylation. In certain embodiments, NAGLU variants exhibit an altered glycosylation pattern, for example N-glycosylation (asparagine-linked glycosylation). In specific embodiments, the N-glycosylation is altered by the presence of mannosyl residues (high-mannose type N-glycan). In certain embodiments, N-glycosylation is altered by the presence of mannosyl residues (high-mannose type N-glycan) and by the essential absence of complex glycans, such as glucosylated, sialylated, and/or bisected N-glycans. In some embodiments, a NAGLU variant that exhibits an alteration in glycosylation, such as the presence of high-mannose type N-glycan and by the essential absence of complex N-glycan, is NAGLU-kif (SEQ ID NO: 3).

By “screen” or “screening” is meant to test in silico, in vitro, or in vivo for a compound with a particular characteristic or desired property. These characteristics or desired properties may be chemical, biological, or physical in nature or a combination there of. For example, in screening for NAGLU binding compounds the desired characteristics may include, but are not limited to, high affinity intracellular binding to NAGLU, low affinity intracellular binding to NAGLU, high specificity for binding to one or multiple binding sites on NAGLU, low specificity for binding to one or multiple binding sites on NAGLU, high degree of restoration of NAGLU activity, high bioavailability of the compound, efficient cellular uptake of the compound, high solubility of the compound in pharmacological carriers, low pharmacological toxicity of the compound, etc. Screening may be performed in vitro or in vivo using compound libraries, such as small molecule libraries, DNA libraries, or crystallization buffer matrices. Screening in silico may be performed using predefined or randomized screening parameters and data sets, for example of known test compounds and/or test conditions.

By “select” or “selecting” is meant to provide a pre-existing molecular structure and to chose, for example, from a group of pre-existing compounds, such as small molecules, polypeptides or nucleic acids one or more members that have or exhibit a desired property or characteristic.

Small molecule: The term “small molecule” as used herein is meant to describe a low molecular weight organic compound which is not a polymer. A small molecule may bind with high or low affinity to a biopolymer such as protein, nucleic acid, or polysaccharide and may in addition alter the activity or function of the biopolymer. The molecular weight of the small organic compound may generally be smaller than about 1500 Da. Small molecules may be smaller than about 1000 Da, smaller than about 800 Da, or smaller than about 500 Da. Small molecules may rapidly diffuse across cell membranes and may have oral bioavailability. These compounds can be natural or synthetic.

Space group: The term “space group” refers to the arrangement of symmetry elements in a crystal.

By “substrate” is meant a compound that acted upon by NAGLU, such as e.g. heparan sulfate, which is degraded by NAGLU via hydrolysis of terminal N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminides.

By the term “synthesizing” is meant making a chemical structure from precursors by chemical processes. Synthesizing implies making at least one compound, but is not limited to one compound. In certain aspects, synthesizing implies making more than one compound, such as a series of compounds synthesized in an effort to study structure-activity relationships (SAR) using standard chemistry methods, and/or a series of structurally similar compounds made using standard combinatorial techniques.

Unit cell: The term “unit cell” refers to the basic parallelipiped shaped block. The entire volume of a crystal may be constructed by regular assembly of such blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 depicts a photograph of crystals of NAGLU-kif.

FIG. 2 depicts a sequence alignment of cpGH89 (PDB ID: 2VCC, SEQ ID NO: 2) and human NAGLU (SEQ ID NO: 1). The sequence alignment was generated using the web-based Multalin program (multalin.toulouse.inra.fr/multalin/multalin.html). Human NAGLU sequence includes a 23 amino acid signal peptide. cpGH89 has an additional N-terminal carbohydrate binding domain.

FIG. 3 depicts a stick-and-ribbon representation of the crystal structure of NAGLU. Three domains are colored in cyan (Domain I), blue (Domain II), and dark salmon (Domain III). Glycans are shown as green sticks. Catalytic residues E316 and E446 are shown as red sticks.

FIG. 4 depicts a stick-and-ribbon representation of the trimeric structure of NAGLU. Three domains are colored in cyan (Domain I), blue (Domain II), and dark salmon (Domain III). Glycans are shown as green sticks. Catalytic residues E316 and E446 are shown as red sticks. Active sites of the three molecules are marked.

FIG. 5 shows a chromatogram of the Butyl Sepharose 4 FF column used for NAGLU purification from conditioned media.

FIG. 6 shows images of SDS-PAGE (A) and Western Blot (B) for the Butyl Sepharose 4 FF column fractions.

FIG. 7 shows a chromatogram of the Q Sepharose HP column.

FIG. 8 depicts an image of SDS-PAGE elution profile for the Q Sepharose HP column.

FIG. 9 depicts an image of an SDS-PAGE gel of purified NAGLU-kif.

FIG. 10 depicts N-glycans (green sticks) and amino acids that are sites of severe mutations of MPS III-B (red sticks).

FIG. 11 depicts amino acids that are sites of active site mutations Y140C, W268R, F410S, and W649C. Also depicted are the product, N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) that was modeled into the active site and catalytic residues E316 and E446.

FIG. 12 depicts amino acids that are sites of mutations relative to asparagines N₅₀₃, N₅₂₆, and N₅₃₂.

FIG. 13 depicts the site of amino acids mutation R234C.

FIG. 14 depicts the site of amino acids mutation Y455C.

FIG. 15 depicts the site of amino acids mutation E153K.

FIG. 16 depicts the clusters of mutations found in NAGLU: glycosylation site, active site, domain interface, N-terminal domain. Red sticks: severe mutations, yellow sticks: attenuated mutations, blue sticks: N.R, (“not reported”: Yogalingam et al. (2001) Hum. Mutat. 18:264-281), green sticks: N-glycan sites (Asn residues).

FIG. 17 depicts the site of amino acids mutations in the domain interface: H100R, E153K, W156C, E452K, Y455C, and R482W.

FIG. 18 is a photograph of crystals of recombinant human NAGLU (rhNAGLU).

FIG. 19 depicts the structure of rhNAGLU (3.5 Å resolution) superimposed on the structure of NAGLU-kif (2.4 Å resolution). Backbone structures are shown in ribbon representation.

SEQUENCE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS

SEQ ID NO. 1: Wild-type human NAGLU amino acid sequence.

SEQ ID. NO. 2: CpGH89 amino acid sequence of Clostridium perfringens.

SEQ ID NO. 3: Human NAGLU amino acid sequence 24-743.

SEQ ID NO. 4: Nucleic acid encoding human NAGLU of SEQ ID NO: 3.

SEQ ID NO. 5: Nucleic acid sequence of NAGLU expression vector pXD671.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Substantial genetic information describing mutations in the naglu gene that give rise to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) has been obtained and some biochemical characterization of these mutant NAGLU enzymes have been performed (Schmidtchen et al. (1998) Am J Hum Genet 62:64-6; Yogalingam G, et al., (2000) Biochim Biophys Acta 1502:415-425). However, progress has been hindered because no structural information for human NAGLU or another mammalian NAGLU is available that can be used to correlate this genetic information to the enzyme's structure and function. CpGH89, an ortholog of human NAGLU from C. perfringens (that has about 30% overall amino acid sequence identity to NAGLU) has recently been crystallized and the three dimensional structure of this enzyme was determined (Ficko-Blean et al. (2008) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 105:6560-5). CpGH89 is a multi-modular protein of 2,095 amino acids. Only residues 26-916 were crystallized. The N-terminal domain (residues 26-155) forms a β-sandwich fold and shares sequence identity to the family 32 carbohydrate-binding modules. The catalytic region is comprised of a small mixed α/β domain (residues 170-280), a decorated (α/β)8 core (residues 280-620), and an all α-helical domain (residues 621-916). Crystallization of human NAGLU or another mammalian NAGLU has previously not been achieved, and no atomic structural information for the human or other mammalian NAGLU has been available before now. This was largely due to the difficulty of generating enough pure homogeneous protein for structural studies. Some aspects of this invention are based on the recognition that the difficulty in obtaining crystals of sufficient quality for X-ray diffraction studies was due to the heterogeneous complex glycosylation of the protein.

The present invention provides an x-ray crystal structure of human NAGLU obtained by crystallizing protein with a substantially homogeneous glycosylation pattern. The present invention also provides purification and crystallization methods for human NAGLU and variants thereof. Homogeneous protein and subsequently crystals of the protein were obtained by inhibiting the processing of glycans by mannosidase-I during expression, leading to altered glycosylation patterns on NAGLU of high mannose neutral glycans. Under certain conditions (e.g., 20 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 100 mM NaCl at approximately 1 mg/mL protein concentration; or 0.01 M nickel chloride, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, 1.0 M lithium sulfate) crystals of NAGLU protein suitable for x-ray diffraction were formed. Crystallization conditions were found that allowed for formation of crystals of sufficient size and quality that enabled gathering x-ray diffraction data for generating atomic coordinates of human NAGLU.

The present invention also provides detailed three-dimensional structural information provided from single crystal X-ray crystallography of human NAGLU with a modified glycosylation pattern. Such structural information will aid the analysis of detailed substrate recognition and catalysis of NAGLU as well as the modeling of the more than 100 identified mutations that have been identified in the naglu gene many of which are implicated in mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). Such structural information is also useful to identify NAGLU polypeptide binding compounds. Suitable binding compounds may be able to bind to the NAGLU polypeptide, to stabilize the NAGLU polypeptide and/or to modulate the enzymatic activity of the NAGLU polypeptide. NAGLU enzyme stabilization in vivo or in vitro may be useful to treat MPS III-B. For example in MPS III-B treatment involving administration of a binding compound to a subject suffering from MPS III-B the administered NAGLU binding compound may enter cells with low or non-existent NAGLU enzymatic activity to stabilize the endogenous NAGLU enzyme in the intracellular environment, thereby increasing or restoring (at least partially) NAGLU enzyme activity. As another example, in MPS III-B treatment involving administration of the purified NAGLU enzyme (enzyme replacement therapy) to a subject suffering from MPS III-B the NAGLU binding compound may be added to the isolated NAGLU in vitro (e.g. in a pharmaceutically acceptable solution) to stabilize the isolated enzyme and to prevent protein aggregation prior to administration. Useful NAGLU binding compounds may, for example, be computationally identified using the atomic coordinates set forth in Table 3 to display the atomic coordinates as a three-dimensional structure of the NAGLU polypeptide. Three-dimensional structures of NAGLU variants, such as NAGLU mutants comprising amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication that are associated with or lead to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B), such as provided in Table 4, may also be modeled using the three-dimensional structure based on the atomic coordinates provided herein as a template. NAGLU binding compounds may be identified that have binding affinity to the active site of NAGLU or to a site outside of the active site of NAGLU (exosites). Exosites that are suitable for NAGLU stabilization may comprise a mutation (e.g. substitution, deletion or duplication) that is associated with or leads to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). Binding compounds may be designed in silico based on the three dimensional structural information provided by the atomic coordinates described herein. NAGLU binding compounds may also be useful for other applications, such as scientific research, e.g. as stabilizing agents in crystallography.

Cloning of NAGLU

In one aspect, the invention provides methods for cloning a naglu gene and methods for altering the nucleic acid sequence of the wild-type naglu gene. In certain embodiments, naglu genes encoding variant NAGLU polypeptides comprising one or more mutations that are associated with or causative of mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS are provided. In certain embodiments, naglu gene expression vectors for recombinantly producing NAGLU are also provided.

Nucleic acids for the production of recombinant proteins may be i) amplified in vitro by, for example, polymerase chain reaction (PCR); ii) recombinantly produced by cloning; iii) purified (e.g., from a sample or tissue), and isolated, for example by gel separation; or iv) synthesized by, for example, chemical synthesis.

In certain embodiments, nucleic acids comprising a naglu gene or a portion thereof are provided. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid comprises the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3 or a portion thereof. In certain embodiments, a nucleic acid comprising a naglu gene variant is provided. In certain embodiments, the naglu gene variant comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions, additions, deletions, or duplications. In certain embodiments, a nucleic acid is provided that comprises a naglu gene variant associated with or causative of mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B).

Modifications and mutations which create a NAGLU polypeptide variant can be made within the nucleic acid sequence which encodes the NAGLU polypeptide. Modifications and mutations include deletions, point mutations, truncations, nucleic acid changes that lead to amino acid substitutions, and nucleic acid changes that lead to the addition of amino acids. NAGLU modifications that are introduced in vitro may resemble modifications that are naturally occurring in and are found in patients with MPS III-B. Other modifications may include for example, addition of a linker molecule, addition of a tag, addition of a detectable moiety, and addition of a fatty acid. Modifications also embrace fusion proteins comprising all or part of the amino acid sequence of NAGLU. The detailed three-dimensional structural information provided herein enable one of skill in the art to predict the effect on protein conformation of a change in protein sequence, and one can thus “design” a variant NAGLU polypeptide according to known methods.

Nucleic acid modifications can be made to generate variants that are silent with respect to the amino acid sequence of the encoded polypeptide, but which provide preferred codons for translation in a particular host. The preferred codons for translation of a nucleic acid in specific non-mammalian expression systems, such as prokaryotic systems, are well known in the art (e.g. Tats et al. (2008) BMC Genomics, 9:e463; Buchan et al. (2006) Nucleic Acids Res, 34:1015-1027; Moura et al. (2007) PLoS ONE, 2(9):e847). Still other modifications can be made to the non-coding sequences of the naglu gene to enhance or control the expression of the gene encoding NAGLU polypeptide.

Conservative amino acid substitutions are amino acid substitution in which the substituted amino acid residue is of similar charge as the replaced residue and/or is of similar or smaller size than the replaced residue. Conservative substitutions of amino acids include substitutions made amongst amino acids within the following groups: (a) the small non-polar amino acids, A, M, I, L, and V; (b) the small polar amino acids, G, S, T and C; (c) the amido amino acids, Q and N; (d) the aromatic amino acids, F, Y and W; (e) the basic amino acids, K, R and H; and (f) the acidic amino acids, E and D. Substitutions which are charge neutral and which replace a residue with a smaller residue may also be considered conservative substitutions even if the residues are in different groups (e.g., replacement of phenylalanine with the smaller isoleucine). Methods for making amino acid substitutions, additions, or deletions are well known in the art, e.g. polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-directed methods (Molecular Biology: Current Innovations and Future Trends. by Griffin A. M. and Griffin H. G. (1995) Horizon Scientific Press, Norfolk, U.K; Modern Genetic Analysis. by Griffith A. J., Second Edition, (2002) H. Freeman and Company, New York, N.Y.).

Non-conservative substitutions, such as mutations found in the naglu gene of patients having MPS III-B, may also be introduced. Using the detailed three-dimensional structural information provided herein the effect of non-conservative substitutions on the structure of NAGLU can be predicted. One skilled in the art will be able to predict the effect of a substitution by using the detailed three-dimensional structural information provided herein, as well as using routine biological screening assays. For a detailed description of protein chemistry and structure, see Principles of Protein Structure by Schulz, G. E. et al. (1979) Springer-Verlag, New York, and Proteins: Structure and Molecular Principles by Creighton, T. E. (1984) W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco.

Another aspect of the invention provides NAGLU that is recombinantly produced. NAGLU may be recombinantly produced using a vector including a coding sequence operably associated with one or more regulatory sequences. A coding sequence and regulatory sequences are “operably associated with” when they are covalently linked to place the expression or transcription of the coding sequence under the control of the regulatory sequence. A promoter region is operably associated with to a coding sequence if the promoter region is capable of modulating transcription of the coding sequence.

The nature of the regulatory sequences needed for gene expression may vary between species or cell types, but may generally include 5′ non-transcribed and 5′ non-translated sequences involved with initiation of transcription and translation respectively, such as, for example, TATA box, capping sequence, CAAT sequence. 5′ non-transcribed regulatory sequences may include a promoter region which includes a promoter sequence for transcriptional control of the operably associated gene. Promoters may be constitutive or inducible. Regulatory sequences may also include enhancer sequences or upstream activator sequences.

A DNA sequence operably associated with a regulatory sequence may be inserted by restriction and ligation into a vector, e.g., for transport between different genetic environments or for expression in a host cell. Vectors are typically composed of DNA or RNA. Vectors include, but are not limited to, plasmids, viral vectors, cosmids, artificial chromosomes, and phagemids. A cloning vector is one which is able to replicate in a host cell, and which is further characterized by one or more endonuclease restriction sites at which the vector may be cut and into which a desired nucleic acid sequence (e.g., an open reading frame) may be inserted. Vectors may contain one or more marker sequences suitable for use in the identification of cells which have or have not been transformed or transfected with the vector. Markers include, for example, genes encoding proteins which increase or decrease either resistance or sensitivity to antibiotics or other compounds, genes which encode enzymes whose activities are detectable by standard assays known in the art (e.g., β-galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase or luciferase), and genes which visibly affect the phenotype of transformed or transfected cells, hosts, colonies or plaques.

For prokaryotic systems, plasmid vectors that contain replication sites and control sequences derived from a species compatible with the host may be used. Preferably, the vector has the capacity to autonomously replicate in the host cell. Useful prokaryotic hosts include bacteria such as E. coli. To express NAGLU in a prokaryotic cell, it is desirable to operably join the nucleic acid sequence of NAGLU (e.g. cDNA) to a functional prokaryotic promoter. Such promoter may be either constitutive or regulatable (e.g. by induction or de-repression). Because prokaryotic cells may not produce glycosylated NAGLU, expression of NAGLU in eukaryotic hosts may be useful when glycosylation is desired. Eukaryotic hosts include, for example, yeast, fungi, insect cells, and mammalian cells. In addition, plant cells are also available as hosts, and control sequences compatible with plant cells are known in the art.

A wide variety of transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences may be employed, depending upon the nature of the host. The transcriptional and translational regulatory signals may be derived from viral sources, such as adenovirus, bovine papilloma virus and simian virus. Mammalian promoters, such as, for example, actin, collagen, and myosin may be employed. Transcriptional initiation regulatory signals may be selected which allow for repression or activation, so that expression of the gene sequences can be modulated, for example by regulatory signals, such as repression/initiation through changes in temperature or by addition of a chemical or biological modulating molecule.

Vector can be employed which are capable of integrating a desired gene sequences into the host cell chromosome. Cells which have stably integrated the introduced nucleic acid into their chromosomes can be selected by also introducing one or more markers which allow for selection of host cells which contain the expression vector. The selectable marker gene sequence can either be directly linked to the gene sequences to be expressed, or introduced into the same cell by co-transfection. Additional elements, such as splice signals, transcription promoters, enhancers, and termination signals may also be needed for optimal synthesis of NAGLU mRNA.

Once a desired vector or desired nucleic acid sequence has been prepared, the vector or nucleic acid sequence is introduced into an appropriate host cell by any of a variety of suitable means, for example, transformation, transfection, conjugation, protoplast fusion, electroporation, calcium phosphate-precipitation, or direct microinjection. After the introduction of the vector, recipient cells are grown in a selective medium, which selects for the growth of vector-containing cells. Expression of the cloned gene sequence results in the production of recombinant NAGLU. For example, the naglu open reading frame can be amplified by PCR, with a 5′ NheI site and a 3′ PacI restriction enzyme site, from a human adrenal gland cDNA library (Clontech #637211). This PCR fragment can be ligated into the shuttle vector, pCRBlunt II TOPO. The nucleic acid sequence of the insert may be verified by sequencing and by restriction digest and DNA gel analysis. The naglu insert is then ligated into the pXD671 vector using NheI/PacI sites. The nucleic acid sequence of the final insert may optionally be verified by sequencing.

Overexpression of NAGLU

In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for recombinantly producing wild-type NAGLU as well as mutated NAGLU and provides expression systems, such as cell lines for recombinantly producing NAGLU. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for altering the glycosylation of NAGLU and methods of expressing NAGLU having an altered glycosylation pattern in expression systems. In certain embodiments, glycan processing inhibitors are provided that can alter the glycosylation on NAGLU.

Recombinant NAGLU can be expressed in various expression host systems. In certain embodiments, the expression host system is a mammalian cell line. Recombinant proteins that are expressed in mammalian cell host systems can be posttranslationally modified. Posttranslational modifications of proteins in mammalian cells include glycosylation, such as N-glycosylation and phosphorylation, such as phosphorylation at Ser, Thr, Tyr or His residues. Other examples of protein expression host systems include other eukaryotic systems, yeast, plant-derived cell lines, insect-derived cell lines, and also prokaryotic systems, such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli). It would be understood by one of ordinary skill that proteins expressed in prokaryotic systems do not comprise N-glycans. In certain embodiments, cell lines are used that secrete the recombinant protein. In certain embodiments, mammalian cell lines are used to produce recombinant NAGLU that secrete the recombinant protein, such as, for example, CHO-K1 cells (Weber et al. (2001) Prot. Exp. and Purif. 21:251-259). Non-limiting examples of mammalian cells that may be used in accordance with the present invention include BALB/c mouse myeloma line (NSO/1, ECACC No: 85110503); human retinoblasts (PER.C6, CruCell, Leiden, The Netherlands); monkey kidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651); human embryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subcloned for growth in suspension culture, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol., 36:59, 1977); human fibrosarcoma cell line (e.g., HT1080); baby hamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL 10); Chinese hamster ovary cells +/−DHFR (CHO, Urlaub and Chasin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77:4216, 1980); mouse sertoli cells (TM4, Mather, Biol. Reprod., 23:243-251, 1980); monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC CRL-1 587); human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa, ATCC CCL 2); canine kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL 34); buffalo rat liver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442); human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL 75); human liver cells (Hep G2, HB 8065); mouse mammary tumor (MMT 060562, ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci., 383:44-68, 1982); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and a human hepatoma line (Hep G2).

In certain embodiments, recombinant NAGLU that is expressed in a mammalian cell line that is phosphorylated at one or more phosphorylation sites, e.g. phosphorylation at Ser, Thr, Tyr or His residues. For example, His307 of NAGLU may be modified by phosphorylation.

In certain embodiments, recombinant NAGLU that is expressed in a mammalian cell line has an altered glycosylation pattern. In certain embodiments, recombinant NAGLU that is expressed in a mammalian cell line has altered-N-glycosylation. To obtain recombinant NAGLU with altered N-glycosylation the cell line expressing recombinant NAGLU may be treated (contacted) with an agent that modulates or alters glycosylation. In certain embodiments, such agent may be an inhibitor of an enzyme involved in glycan processing pathways. In certain embodiments, such inhibitor may inhibit the activity of one or more glycosyltransferases or glycosidases. Glycosyltransferases and glycosidases involved in mammalian N-glycan processing pathways are, for example, α-1,2-mannosidase (IA, IB, IC), mannosidase II, β-1,2 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnTI), β-1,2 GnTII, GnTIII, β-1,4 GnTIV, β-1,4 GnTVI, β-1,4 galactosyltransferase, α-2,3-sialyltransferase, and α-2,6-sialyltransferase. In certain embodiments, N-glycosylation of recombinant NAGLU may be altered by contacting the cells expressing recombinant NAGLU with a glycosidase inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the glycosidase inhibitor is a mannosidase I inhibitor. It should further be appreciated that glycosidase inhibitors other than mannosidase I inhibitors may be used. Glycosidases are involved in the processing of the oligosaccharide chains and quality control mechanisms in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the N-linked glycoproteins. Inhibition of these glycosidases can modulate cellular quality control, polypeptide maturation, transport, and secretion of glycoproteins. Over one hundred glycosidase inhibitors have been isolated from plants and micro-organisms and are known in the art (Asano N. Glycobiology, (2003). In certain embodiments, other inhibitors of glycan processing can be used. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor of glycan processing is kifunensine (KIF), deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) or castanospermine (CST). In one embodiment, the mannosidase I inhibitor is kifunensine. Other examples of inhibitors of lysosomal glycosidases are 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxynojirimycin, 6-acetamido-6-deoxycastanospermine, 1-thio-beta-D-N-acetylglucosamine, colombin, dermatan sulfate, N-acetylglucosamine, p-chloromercuribenzoate, N-acetylglucosaminolactone, and substrate analogs (Winchester and Fleet, Glycobiology (1992) 2(3):199-210; Asano, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2009) 66(9):1479-1492; references incorporated herein in their entirety). Substrates of lysosomal glycosidases are, for example, 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-α-D-glucosaminide, p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminide, o-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminide, phenyl-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminide, UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosamine, uridine-5′-diphospho-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminide, chitobiose, chitotetraose, chitotriose, and compounds with hydrolysable terminal non-reducing N-acetyl-a-D-glucosaminides. In certain embodiments, inhibitors of glycan processing are used to produce glycoproteins that exhibit high-mannose type N-glycans that are not further processed to complex glycans. These altered glycan patterns can, in certain embodiments, affect the physical characteristics of the glycoprotein, such as, for example, its solubility, and/or its biochemical characteristics, such as, for example, its rate of secretion from a cell expressing the glycoprotein. In certain embodiments, recombinant NAGLU is expressed in mammalian cells that are treated (contacted) with an inhibitor of glycan processing. In one embodiment, the inhibitor is a mannosidase I inhibitor. In one embodiment, the mannosidase I inhibitor is kifunensine. In one embodiment the recombinant NAGLU is purified from the cells expressing NAGLU and/or the medium in which the NAGLU-expressing cells are grown, after the cells have been contacted with an inhibitor of glycan processing. In some embodiments, the NAGLU which is expressed by the cells has an altered glycosylation pattern. In one embodiment, the inhibitor of glycan processing is kifunensin and the NAGLU that results has an altered glycan pattern and is referred to herein as “Naglu-kif.” In certain embodiments, the NAGLU that has an altered glycan pattern exhibits glycans of the high-mannose type. In certain embodiments, the NAGLU that has an altered glycan pattern exhibits glycans of the high-mannose type and complex glycans are essentially absent. In certain embodiments, the NAGLU that has an altered glycan pattern exclusively exhibits glycans of the high-mannose type.

It should be appreciated that if the recombinant NAGLU is purified, or partially purified, additional alterations to the glycan structures may be made. For example, mannose residues present on NAGLU may be removed (cleaved off) by appropriate enzymes, such as recombinant mannosidases or Endoglycosidase H. Endoglycosidase H (Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase H) is highly specific and cleaves asparagine (N)-linked mannose rich oligosaccharides, but not highly processed complex oligosaccharides from glycoproteins. Endoglycosidase H activity completely removes high-mannose glycan by cleaving the bond between two N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) subunits directly proximal to the asparagine residue, leaving only one GlcNAc residue N-linked to the asparagine. This GlcNAc residue can be the basis for the in vitro synthesis of other glycan structures, using, for example, one or more recombinant glycosyltransferases.

Purification of NAGLU

In another aspect, the invention provides methods for purifying NAGLU. In certain embodiments, methods for purifying recombinantly produced NAGLU as described herein are provided. In certain embodiments, recombinantly produced NAGLU has the amino acid sequence of wild-type NAGLU. In certain embodiments, recombinantly produced NAGLU comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, recombinantly produced NAGLU comprises an amino acid sequence that has at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% amino acid sequence homology or identity with the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the recombinantly produced NAGLU is a NAGLU variant as described herein, such as for example a mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)-associated mutant NAGLU variant comprising one or more of the mutations set forth in Table 4 or the variant is a members of the family 89 glycoside hydrolases (α-N-acetylglucosaminidases) having significant amino acid sequence homology, such as having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence homology with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for purifying NAGLU having an altered glycosylation pattern. In certain embodiments, purified NAGLU is provided having an altered glycosylation pattern. In certain embodiments, the purified NAGLU provided having an altered glycosylation pattern is NAGLU-kif. In certain embodiments, purified NAGLU is provided that is phosphorylated at one or more phosphorylation sites, e.g. phosphorylation at Ser, Thr, Tyr or His residues. Purified NAGLU may comprise a histindine residue that represents a phosphohistidine. For example, His307 of NAGLU may be modified by phosphorylation.

In certain embodiments, native (non-recombinant) NAGLU purified from a number of mammalian tissues, such as placental tissue (von Figura et al. (1984) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 36:93-100; Di Natale et al. (1985) Enzyme 33:75-83; Salvatore et al. (1982) Biol. Cell 45:212; Salvatore et al. (1984) Bull. Mol. Biol. Med. 9:111-121; Sasaki et al. (1991) J Biochem. 110:842-46; Weber et al. (1996) Hum. Mol. Genet. 5:771-7; Zhao et al. (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:6101-5) is provided. NAGLU purified from mammalian tissue may be of a wild-type amino acid sequence or a mutant amino acid sequence. Isolation procedures of NAGLU, for example from tissue, and recombinant expression of NAGLU may provide NAGLU polypeptide of sufficient quantity and quality to permit its identification, characterization, and/or use, for example, for protein crystallization, biochemical studies, therapeutic use, etc. The isolated polypeptide can be selectively produced by expression cloning and purified by techniques known in the art (e.g., chromatography, precipitation, electrophoresis). Such purification methods are well known in the art (Biochemistry by Zubay G., 2nd Edition (1988) Macmillan Publishing Co., New York, N.Y., USA; Protein Purification Handbook by Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Edition AB (1999) Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Inc. New Jersey, USA, incorporated herein by reference). In certain embodiments, NAGLU is expressed recombinantly in an animal cell line, an insect cell line or in yeast. In certain embodiments, NAGLU is expressed recombinantly in a mammalian cell line. The mammalian cell line can be a human cell line. In certain embodiments, NAGLU is expressed recombinantly in a mammalian cell line that is treated with an inhibitor of glycosylation. For example, NAGLU can be expressed in HT1080 cells that are treated with kifunensine, a known mannosidase I inhibitor. In certain embodiments, recombinantly expressed NAGLU is secreted into the cell medium. Described herein are purification methods that provide purified recombinantly produced NAGLU having an altered glycosylation pattern. In certain embodiments, the methods of purification employ chromatography to isolate the desired protein. For example, in certain embodiments, secreted NAGLU from HT1080 cells can be purified from culture media by hydrophobic butyl column followed by anion exchange Q column.

Biochemical Characterization of Recombinant NAGLU

Recombinant NAGLU may be characterized using techniques that are well known in the art. For example, recombinant human NAGLU (rhNAGLU) can be characterized by enzyme kinetic assays, glycodigestion by EndoH and PNGaseF, isoelectric focusing, reverse phase HPLC, and differential scanning calorimetry. Other biochemical assays may also be used. For example, NAGLU activity may be measured using the NAGLU-specific substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-α-D-glucosaminide.

Crystallization Screening of NAGLU and Cryo-Optimization

In another aspect the invention provides methods for crystallizing NAGLU. In certain embodiments, methods for crystallizing NAGLU involve crystallizing purified recombinant NAGLU as described herein. In certain embodiments, purified recombinant NAGLU comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof is crystallized by the methods provided herein. In certain embodiments, the purified recombinant NAGLU that is crystallized comprises an amino acid sequence that has at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% amino acid sequence homology or identity with the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the purified recombinant NAGLU that is crystallized is a NAGLU variant as described herein, such as for example a mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)-associated mutant NAGLU variant comprising one or more of the mutations set forth in Table 4 or the variant is a members of the family 89 glycoside hydrolases (α-N-acetylglucosaminidases) having significant amino acid sequence homology, such as having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence homology with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3. In certain embodiments, purified recombinant NAGLU comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 having an altered glycan pattern is crystallized by the methods provided herein. In certain embodiments, the recombinant NAGLU having an altered glycan pattern and crystallized by the methods described herein is NAGLU-kif. For example, NAGLU-kif can be obtained by inhibiting mannosidase I activity in cells that express recombinant NAGLU. Cells expressing recombinant NAGLU may be contacted with the mannosidase I inhibitor kifunensine. Inhibition of mannosidase I activity during NAGLU expression results in NAGLU protein exhibiting high mannose neutral glycans.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a wide variety of crystallization conditions may be employed to provide crystals of NAGLU, therefore, a wide variety of crystallization conditions are envisioned and encompassed by the present invention. Every protein crystallizes under a unique set of conditions, such as, for example, supersaturating the solution containing the protein; and/or adding precipitating or crystallizing agents, salts, metals, and/or buffers to the solution containing the protein.

Any crystallization technique known to those skilled in the art may be employed to obtain the crystals of the present invention, including, but not limited to, batch crystallization, vapor diffusion (e.g., either by sitting drop or hanging drop), and micro dialysis. Seeding in some instances may be required to obtain x-ray quality crystals. Standard micro and/or macro seeding of crystals may therefore be used. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown using the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method.

The crystals of NAGLU may be grown at any temperature suitable for crystallization. For example, the crystals may be grown at temperatures ranging from approximately 0° C. to approximately 30° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of between approximately 0° C. to approximately 10° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of between approximately 0° C. to approximately 5° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of between approximately 5° C. to approximately 10° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of between approximately 10° C. to approximately 15° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of between approximately 15° C. to approximately 20° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of between approximately 20° C. to approximately 25° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of between approximately 25° C. to approximately 30° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of approximately 0° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of approximately 1° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of approximately 2° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of approximately 3° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of approximately 4° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of approximately 5° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at a temperature of approximately 6° C. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention are grown at room temperature.

Crystals of the present invention are typically grown from a crystallization solution comprising one or more precipitants. In certain embodiments the precipitants may be selected from polymers, polyethers, alcohols, salts, and/or polyols. In certain embodiments, these precipitants are selected from the group consisting of monomethyl ether (MME); polyethylene glycol PEG-400; PEG-1000; PEG-2000; PEG-3000; PEG-8000; PEG 20,000; ((NH₄)₂SO₄); 2-propanol; 1,4-butanediol; K/Na tartrate; ethanol; NaCl; sodium citrate; NaH₂PO₄/K₂HPO₄; ethylene glycol; dioxane; 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD); polyethyleneimine; tert-butanol; and 1,6-hexanediol.

In certain embodiments, the crystallization conditions may further comprise one or more salts. Thus, in certain embodiments the crystallization conditions further comprises one or more salts selected from the group consisting of MgCl₂, Zn(OAc)₂, Li₂SO₄, Ca(OAc)₂, NaCl; (NH₄)₂ SO₄, CdCl₂, CoCl₂, MgSO₄, and NiCl₂. In certain embodiments, the crystallization conditions further comprises one or more buffers selected from the group consisting of 2-(cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (CHES); 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES); N-cyclohexyl-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (CAPS); N-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxyl3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (CASPO); 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES); 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid (MOPS); 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (Tris); piperazine-N,N′-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (PIPES); N-(2-Acetamido)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (ACES); N,N-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES); N-Tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (TES); N-(2-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA); tris(2-carboxylethyl)phosphine (TCEP); acetamidoglycine; cholamine chloride; glycinamide; bicine; N-(2-Hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl)glycine (tricine); imidazole; sodium citrate; sodium acetate; cacodylate; Na/K phosphate, and buffers as described in Good et al. (1966) Biochemistry 5:467-477, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, precipitants that may be used to crystallize NAGLU include, but are not limited to, lithium sulfate; PEG-400; PEG-550 MME; PEG-2000; PEG-6000; PEG-8000; PEG 20,000; and/or 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD) (see Table 1).

In certain embodiments, the pH of the crystallization solution is between about a pH of approximately 4 to pH of approximately 9. In certain embodiments, the pH of the crystallization solution is between about a pH of approximately 6.5 to a pH of approximately 9. In certain embodiments, the pH of the crystallization solution is approximately 7.5. In certain embodiments, the pH of the crystallization solution is near the isoelectric point of the protein.

In a specific embodiment, Naglu-kif at a concentration of about 1 mg/ml is screened for crystallization conditions using the sitting drop vapor diffusion method employing a random matrix crystallization screening kit. Such kits are commercially available, for example, Qiagen NeXtal Classic Suite crystal screen kit, Qiagen catalog #130701. In a specific embodiment, Naglu-kif is crystallized under conditions such as summarized in Table 1. In a further specific embodiment, Naglu-kif is crystallized in condition #58 (0.01 M nickel chloride, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, 1.0 M lithium sulfate) as summarized in Table 1.

In certain embodiments, NAGLU-kif crystals which have a high solvent content may be dehydrated by equilibrating against a buffer containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a sitting drop vapor diffusion tray.

In certain embodiments, the crystals are screened for optimal cryo-conditions to freeze the crystals at the temperature of liquid nitrogen, for example, to attenuate the radiation damage to crystals that occurs during data collection. In certain embodiments, screening for optimal cryo-conditions can be carried out in crystallization buffers containing 20-35% v/v of polyols, such as glycerol, ethylene glycol or 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD), or 35-70% w/v of sugars, such as sucrose or xylitol. Crystals may be soaked in the cryo-buffer for about 5-15 minutes. In a specific embodiment, cryo-protection of NAGLU crystal grown in condition #58 (0.01 M nickel chloride, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, 1.0 M lithium sulfate, Table 1) is achieved by soaking the crystals in a cryo-buffer containing 25% glycerol. Crystals protected with 25% glycerol containing cryo-buffer diffracted to 3.2 Å. In other embodiment cryo-protection of NAGLU crystals grown in Q buffer is achieved by soaking the crystals in a cryo-buffer containing glycerol and xylitol (20 mM Tris pH7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 15% glycerol and 20% xylitol). Crystals protected with glycerol/xylitol containing cryo-buffer diffracted to 2.9 Å or 2.4 Å. In 2.4 Å structure, the active site pocket may be occupied by one molecule of xylitol and two molecules of glycerol.

NAGLU crystals may also include a binding compound bound to the NAGLU polypeptide. The complex of the polypeptide and binding compound may be formed before, after, or during crystallization. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention and the crystallization conditions further comprise a binding compound. Thus, in certain embodiments, the crystallization solution of the above method further comprises a binding compound in order to provide a NAGLU-binding compound complex. In certain embodiments, the NAGLU crystal provided by the above method is soaked in a solution of a binding compound to provide a NAGLU-binding compound complex. In certain embodiments, the binding compound is bound in the active site of NAGLU. In certain embodiments, the binding compound is a glycosidase inhibitor, such as an inhibitor of a lysosomal glycosidase. Examples of N-acetylglucosaminidase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxynojirimycin (2AcDNJ) (Horsch et al. (1991) Euro J Biochem 197:815-818), O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc) (Beer et al. (1990) Helv Chim Acta 73:1918-1922), and 6-acetamido-6-deoxycastanospermine (6AcCAS) (Liu et al. (1991) Tetrahedron Lett 32:719-720; Zhao and Neufeld (2000) Protein Expr. Purif. 19:202-211), 1-thio-beta-D-N-acetylglucosamine, Colombin, dermatan sulfate, N-acetylglucosamine, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and N-acetylglucosaminolactone. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is a reversible inhibitor. In other embodiments, the binding compound is bound outside the active site at one or more exosites. In some embodiments, the binding compound, whether bound in the active site or at one or more exosites, aids in stabilizing the protein for crystallization and/or x-ray diffraction.

Crystals of NAGLU

In another aspect, the present invention provides crystals of NAGLU. In certain embodiments, the crystalsare of NAGLU, or any structural modifications thereof. In certain embodiments, the crystals are of native NAGLU. In certain embodiments, the crystals are of NAGLU comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3. In certain embodiments, the crystals are of NAGLU having an altered glycosylation pattern. In certain embodiments, the crystals are of NAGLU comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 having an altered glycosylation pattern. In certain embodiments, the crystals are of NAGLU-kif.

A crystal of the present invention may take a variety of forms, all of which are contemplated by the present invention. In certain embodiments, the crystal may have a size of about 100×20×20 micron, about 150×50×50 micron, about 200×50×50 micron, or about 300×50×50 micron. In certain embodiments, the crystals have the optical appearance as illustrated in FIG. 1 and/or the crystals may grow as hexagonal rods. Crystals may have a high solvent content. In certain embodiments, dehydration of the crystals may be used to improve the diffraction resolution of the crystal.

Crystal Structure of NAGLU

In another aspect, the present invention provides three-dimensional structural information-for human NAGLU or for variants, such as variants that comprise one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or duplications, for example those found in mutant NAGLU polypeptides associated with MPS III-B. Other variants include homologs or orthologs of the members of the family 89 glycoside hydrolases (α-N-acetylglucosaminidases). In some embodiments, the invention provides methods for constructing models of these variants using the three-dimensional structural information for human NAGLU as a template. The method may include adjusting the backbone dihedral angles and the side chains of each amino acid that is modeled until a low energy conformation is obtained.

In certain embodiments, X-ray diffraction data collection can be performed in an X-ray crystallography facility. One, two, three, or more diffraction data sets may be collected from one or more NAGLU crystals. In certain embodiments, the crystals of the present invention diffract to a resolution limit of at least approximately 8 angstrom (Å). In certain embodiments, the crystals diffract to a resolution limit of at least approximately 6 Å. In certain embodiments, the crystals diffract to a resolution limit of at least approximately 4 Å. In certain embodiments, the crystals diffract to a resolution limit of at least approximately 2.5 Å. In certain embodiments, the crystal diffracts x-rays for a determination of structural coordinates to a maximum resolution of about 3.9 Å, of about 3.2 Å, or of about 2.9 Å. The crystals may diffract to a maximum resolution of about 2.5 Å to about 3.5 Å, of about 2.0 Å to about 3.0 Å, of about 2.5 Å to about 3.0 Å, or of about 3.0 Å to about 3.5 Å.

Diffraction data can be collected using a variable oscillation angles, number of frames and exposure times that all depend on the equipment used and on the quality of the crystal(s) used to collect the data. One of ordinary skill would know how to optimize these parameters (Principles of protein X-ray crystallography by J. Drenth. 2nd ed. (1999) Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany; Structure Determination by X-ray Crystallography by M. Ladd and R. Palmer. 4th ed. (2003) Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, N.Y.). In certain embodiments, diffraction data can be collected with 1° oscillation. Other oscillation may be used, e.g. oscillations of less than or greater than 1°. For example, diffraction data can be collected with 0.1°, 0.3°, 0.5°, 1°, 1.5°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, or 10° oscillation, or any oscillation angle in between these angles. In certain embodiments, 120 frames are collected. More or fewer than 120 frames may be collected. For example, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300. 400, 500, 1000, or 5000 frames may be collected, or any number of frames in between these numbers. In certain embodiments, the exposure is 5 minutes per frame. Other frame exposure times may also be used, such as, for example 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 60 seconds, 120 seconds, 180 seconds, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes per frame or any exposure time in between these times. Data merging and scaling can be done, for example, using HKL2000 software suite (HKL Research, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.). Structure determination, model building, and refinement can be performed, for example, using software such as Molrep, coot and Refmac that are part of CCP4 software suite. MolRep is a program for automated molecular replacement (e.g., MolRep, version 10.2.35). Coot Graphical Interface by Paul Emsley (www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/˜emsley) for model building includes an interface to refmac5 (Gnu Public License; refmac5, e.g. version 5.5.0072 or version 5.5.0109). A macromolecular refinement program by Garib Murshudov et al. is integrated into the CCP4 program suite (www.ccp4.ac.uk, CCP4, version 6.1.3). Structural analyses may be performed using molecular viewer software PYMOL (pymol.org). In certain embodiments, models of NAGLU may be obtained by molecular replacement method using the program Molrep and the structural information available for CpGH89 as search model. For example, initial phases may be obtained removing from the coordinates of CpGH89 all of the side chains resulting in a poly-alanine model. Such models may be used for further model building and refinement, for example using programs such as coot and Refmac.

The term “molecular replacement” refers to a method that involves generating a preliminary model of the three-dimensional structure of NAGLU or a NAGLU complexed with a binding compound whose structure coordinates are not known by orienting and positioning a NAGLU structure whose atomic coordinates are known (Table 3). Phases are calculated from this model and combined with the observed amplitudes of the unknown crystal structure to give an approximate structure. This structure is then subject to any of several forms of refinement to provide a final, accurate structure. Any program known to the skilled artisan may be employed to determine the structure by molecular replacement. Suitable molecular replacement programs include, but are not limited to, AMORE (1994) (the CCP4 suite: Acta Crystallogr. D., 50:760-763; Navaza (1994) Acta Cryst., A50:157-163) and CNS (1998) (Acta Crystallogr. D., 54:905-921).

In certain embodiments, the atomic coordinates of crystalline NAGLU are provided. In one embodiment, wherein the crystal diffracts at a resolution of 2.9 Å the model may be refined to a final R factor of 18.7% and R_(free) of 22.9%. In one embodiment, wherein the crystal diffracts at a resolution of 2.4 Å the model may be refined to a final R factor of 17.46% and R_(free) of 19.81%. In certain embodiments, atomic coordinates of crystalline NAGLU-kif are provided and the parameters are set forth Table 3 and Table 2. In one embodiment, crystalline NAGLU at 2.9 Å has a space group of P6₃ and has unit cell parameters of a=b=205.66 Å, c=78.69 Å or a=b=207.5 Å, c=79.6 Å, and bond angles of α=β=90°, γ=120°. In another embodiment, crystalline NAGLU at 2.4 Å has a space group of P6₃ and has the unit cell parameters of a=b=205.13 Å, c=78.44 Å, α=β=90° and γ=120°.

Crystalline NAGLU has three domains (I, II, III). Domain I is a small α/β domain (amino acids 24-126). Domain-II is a (α/β)₈ barrel domain (amino acids 127-467) containing the catalytic residues. In certain embodiments, NAGLU exhibits a crystallographic symmetry of a trimeric arrangement formed by the interaction of domains II, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Domain III is an all α-helical bundle domain (amino acids 468-743). The three domain structure is illustrated in FIG. 3; amino acid residue are numbered according to SEQ ID NO:3, amino acids 24-743).

The entrance to the NAGLU active site is at the cleft between domains II and III. Some of the residues found to be at the entrance are H₂₇₀, Q₃₅₅, H₃₅₆, Q₃₅₉, R₅₁₀, and R₅₁₉. The catalytic site comprises catalytic residues E₃₁₆ and E₄₄₆ of SEQ ID NO: 3 spaced about 6 Å apart. In certain embodiments, the active site is further defined by one or more of the following residues: N₁₃₄, C₁₃₆, Y₁₄₀, W₂₀₁, M₂₀₄, W₂₆₈, N₃₁₅, W₃₅₂, L₃₈₃, L₄₀₇, F₄₁₀, H₅₁₂, W₆₄₉, I₆₅₅, and Y₆₅₈. These residues are located within 5 Å of the product molecule (N-acetylglucosamine) as it was modeled in the active site. H₅₁₂ may occur in multiple conformations. The three-dimensional structure of the active site of human NAGLU is provided by the atomic coordinates listed in Table 3 and atomic coordinates for the active site are provided in Table 5. Some of the active site residues that are also sites of mutations that are associated with Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)) are illustrated in FIG. 11.

In one embodiment, the model created based on the structural information obtained contains positional information for amino acid 24-743 of NAGLU. Amino acids 1-23 are part of a signal peptide. In certain embodiments, the purified recombinant NAGLU protein has this signal peptide cleaved (NAGLU₂₄₋₇₄₃). In certain embodiments, models may be used to display the position of one or more N-linked glycans. In certain embodiments, positional information of up to six glycans within the NAGLU structure are provided. In a certain embodiment, the positions of the six glycans are N261, N272, N435, N503, N526 and N532. NAGLU-kif glycosylation may be analyzed. For example, analysis of glycosylation pattern by High Performance Anion Exchange with Pulsed Amperometric Detection (HPAE-PAD) may indicate that NAGLU-kif has high mannose neutral glycans and lacks sialylated or phosphorylated glycans. In 2.9 Å structure, the electron density obtained for the glycans attached to asparagine residues suggests at least one N-acetylglucosamine molecule each on N272, N526, and N532, two N-acetylglucosamine molecules each on N435 and N503, and two N-acetylglucosamine molecules and one mannose residue on N261.

It should be understood that while Table 3 provides atomic coordinates for crystalline NAGLU, the present invention also contemplates structural modifications thereof, for example, mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)-associated mutant NAGLU enzymes as described herein, as well as other members of the family 89 glycoside hydrolases (α-N-acetylglucosaminidases), as having significant structural homology (e.g., significant structural overlap), particularly in the areas recognized as active, and thus providing the same or similar structural information as provided herewith. Significant structural homology refers to at least one of the following criteria: (i) at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% structural homology with crystalline NAGLU; or (ii) at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% structural homology with a recognized active binding site of crystalline NAGLU. In certain embodiments, significant structural homology may also refer to at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% structural homology with the primary amino acid sequence of NAGLU. Furthermore, the primary amino acid sequence of NAGLU may be a sequence included as a segment in a larger amino acid sequence, or may be a fragment thereof. In some embodiments, a fragment of a full-length, wild-type NAGLU protein is provided or used in an inventive method or system provided herein. In some embodiments, a NAGLU fragment comprises a NAGLU sequence of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 50-75, 75-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200-250, 250-500, or more than 500 amino acids. In some embodiments, a fragment of NAGLU does not comprise a full-length NAGLU sequence, for example, a full-length human NAGLU sequence. In some embodiments, a fragment of NAGLU comprises all or at least part of the protein responsible for the enzymatic activity of full-length NAGLU. In some embodiments, fragments include fragments that contain all or part of domains II and/or III, which contain the active site; fragments containing the catalytic residues (E₃₁₆, E₄₄₆) that are located in domain II; fragments containing residues from domain III that form the active site; and fragments containing domain I, which stabilizes domains II and III. The present invention contemplates any and all such variations and modifications of NAGLU.

Uses of NAGLU Structural Information

In another aspect the invention provides methods and/or uses of NAGLU structural information, for example methods for the design of functional fragments of NAGLU for use in gene replacement or enzyme replacement therapy, and methods for designing, identifying, and/or screening binding compounds to NAGLU that may be useful in treating mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). In certain embodiments, methods for designing functional fragments of fusion proteins of NAGLU are provided using the three dimensional structure information provided herein. In certain embodiments, functional NAGLU fragments or fusion proteins are provided that may be altered to affect in vivo delivery or to provide functionality that restores some or all of NAGLU activity in cells that have low NAGLU activity or completely lack NAGLU activity. In certain embodiments, NAGLU fusion proteins are provided that have been altered to cross the blood-brain barrier to increase in vivo delivery to the brain. In certain embodiments, methods are provided for the production of NAGLU polypeptides having an altered glycosylation pattern. In certain embodiments, methods are provided for designing NAGLU polypeptides having one or more altered glycosylation sites, such as asparagines, using the three-dimensional structural information provided herein. In certain embodiments, methods for providing in silico models of mutated NAGLU are provided. In certain embodiments, such methods comprise modeling one or more of the mutations associated with mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) into a model based on the three-dimensional structural information of NAGLU provided herein. In certain embodiments, methods for designing, identifying, and/or screening binding compounds to NAGLU (e.g. wild-type and/or mutated NAGLU) are provided. These binding compounds may be useful in the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). Since Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)) is thought to be caused by reduced or diminished NAGLU enzymatic activity NAGLU binding compounds that might be particularly useful in the treatment of MPS III-B are compounds that increase (or restore at least some) NAGLU enzymatic activity. In certain embodiments, the binding compound may provide NAGLU enzyme stabilization, e.g. during protein folding. The compound may also affect aspects of intracellular trafficking of NAGLU or aspects of enzymatic function, such as substrate recognition and/or NAGLU catalytic activity. In certain embodiments, methods are provided for the in silico design, identification, and/or screening of NAGLU binding compounds using the three-dimensional structural information provided herein. In certain embodiments, methods are provided that can be used to identify inhibitors, reversible inhibitors, activators and/or stabilizers of NAGLU activity. In certain embodiments, methods are provided that can be used to identify binding compounds that modulate NAGLU stability. In certain embodiments, methods are provided that can be used to identify binding compounds that modulate NAGLU stability, NAGLU activity, and or NAGLU intracellular trafficking. In certain embodiments, methods are provided that can be used to test potential binding compounds for their ability to bind to, to modulate NAGLU stability, to modulate NAGLU activity, and or to modulate NAGLU intracellular trafficking. In certain embodiments, these methods include in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods. In certain embodiments, methods are provided, solving the structure of NAGLU homologs or orthologs using the three dimensional structural information provided herein. In certain embodiments, methods are provided, solving the (partial) structure of proteins comprising structurally or functionally homologous domains using the three-dimensional structural information for NAGLU provided herein.

Naglu Gene Replacement Therapy and NAGLU Enzyme Replacement Therapy

Although several therapeutic approaches have been applied to the murine model of the disease, no effective therapy is available for human patients. NAGLU is of interest as a potential candidate for gene replacement therapy. For Sanfilippo syndrome type B, a knock-out mouse model has been generated (Li et al. (1999) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 96:14505-10) and a dog model has also been established (Ellinwood et al. (2003) J Inherit Metab. Dis. 26:489-504). Mouse model studies in the Sanfilippo syndrome type B knock-out mouse model showed that autologous stem cell transplant after ex-vivo gene transfer with retroviral vectors (Zheng et al. (2004) Mol. Genet. Metab 82:286-95 and lentiviral vectors (Di Natale et al. (2005) Biochem. J. 388:639-46) provides therapeutic effects. Further, recombinant adeno-associated vectors (AAV) have been directly administered into the brain of the model mice alleviating intracerebral lesions (Cressant et al. (2004) J. Neurosci 24:10229-39 and Fu et al. (2002) Mol. Ther. 5:42-49).

The three-dimensional structural information provided herein will aid in the identification of sites in the NAGLU enzyme that may be altered, deleted, or fused to another polypeptide that confers additional functionality. For example, biologically active NAGLU fragments can be designed using the three-dimensional structural information provided herein. Useful NAGLU fragments include, but are not limited to, fragments containing all or part of domains II and/or III, which contain the active site; fragments containing the catalytic residues (E₃₁₆, E₄₄₆) that are located in domain II; fragments containing residues from domain III that form the active site; fragments containing domain I, which stabilizes domains II and III; or fragments containing parts of all three domains I, II, and III. In another example, the NAGLU enzyme that may be altered so that more effective delivery vectors and/or delivery systems can be generated. The three-dimensional structural information provided herein will be useful to aid the design of NAGLU variants at the level of the nucleic acid sequence. Functional fragments of naglu cDNA (as determined based on the three-dimensional structural information provided herein) may be cloned into retroviral vectors, lentiviral vectors, or recombinant adeno-associated vectors that have been used for autologous stem cell transplant after ex vivo gene transfer or direct in vivo gene delivery. Functional fragments may have the ability to restore some or all of the activity of NAGLU in cells that harbor a mutated form of NAGLU. Functional fragments may be smaller than full-length protein and thus may be easier to deliver in vivo. Functional fragments may also be fused to other functional fragments not derived from naglu cDNA that may exhibit additional functionality, for example, aiding in vivo delivery, supplying additional enzymatic functions or comprising signaling sequences that govern intracellular protein maturation and protein sorting. In certain embodiments, various fusion tags fused to the C-terminus may be useful for, e.g., lysosomal delivery. In other embodiments, the N-terminus of NAGLU is in close proximity to the trimer interface, and N-terminal fusions may or may not be used for, e.g., lysosomal delivery. N- or C-terminal fusions may be designed based on the three-dimensional structure provided herein.

Native NAGLU has been purified to homogeneity from several tissues and has also been produced recombinantly (Weber et al., (2001) Prot. Exp. and Purif. 21:251-259). NAGLU fusion proteins (fusions between NAGLU and the ligand domains of the LDL receptor ligands ApoB and ApoE) have been proposed (Dr. Ellinwood, Iowa SU, Ames, Iowa). Such fusions are thought to be able to cross the blood brain barrier and may be useful for either gene therapy or intravenous enzyme replacement therapy. The three-dimensional structural information provided herein will be useful to aid the design of NAGLU variants that may only comprise portions of the enzyme, e.g., the active site. Such recombinant variants, which may be smaller that the wild-type protein may then be fused for example to peptide sequences (e.g. tissue specific) or peptide sequences that aid cellular uptake. These peptide sequences may be derived from mammalian polypeptides or can be of non-mammalian origin, such as viral peptide sequenced. For example, fusion partners such as ApoE, TAT, and IGFII fused at C-terminus of NAGLU may be used. It should be appreciated that the full-length NAGLU may also be altered (fused) in such ways. Fusions of the full-length or variant NAGLU polypeptide may also include the fusion to non-peptide sequences, such as, for example, small molecules (e.g., fatty acids) PEG and glycans or other moieties that aid in vivo delivery and/or stability.

The three-dimensional structural information provided herein will aid in the identification, characterization and/or design of specific NAGLU binding compounds, as described herein. These compounds may have the ability to stabilize NAGLU polypeptides. NAGLU binding compounds as described herein may be used to stabilize isolated or recombinantly produced wild-type NAGLU, which may be relatively unstable, both during purification/manufacture and in storage to improve its use in enzyme replacement therapy. It is known in the art that injected human proteins can cause an immune responses induced by misfolded proteins in the preparation (Maas et al. (2007) J. Biol. Chem. 282:2229-2236). NAGLU binding compounds as identified using the atomic coordinates provided herein may be included in the manufacture and storage of NAGLU to reduce unwanted NAGLU protein precipitation or to preserve a high degree of enzymatic activity by maintaining the protein properly folded during purification, synthesis and/or storage. NAGLU may be contacted with the NAGLU binding compound prior to enzyme replacement therapy (i.e., prior to administering the NAGLU enzyme to the subject). NAGLU binding compounds may also be combined with the isolated (purified) NAGLU enzyme during treatment, which may improve in vivo stability (bioavailability) of the administered enzyme, and may reduce the need for frequent dosing.

Alteration of NAGLU Glycosylation and Intracellular Trafficking

It is well known in the art that glycosylation of glycoproteins can be of functional importance and can influence subcellular localization (Marcus et al. (2000), J. Biol. Chem., 275:1987-92). The addition and trimming of oligosaccharide side chains during posttranslational modification play an important role in determining the fate of secretory, membrane, and lysosomal glycoproteins. It has been suggested that trimming of oligosaccharide side chains also plays a role in the degradation of misfolded glycoproteins as a part of the quality control mechanism of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Asparagine-linked (N-linked) oligosaccharide side chains play an important role in intracellular transport of glycoproteins, for example, mannose-6-phosphate modification is a key determinant of sorting to the lysosome (Kornfeld et al. (1989) Annu. Rev. Cell Biol. 5:483-525). Transport of many secretory and membrane glycoproteins from the ER to the appropriate destination depends on the interaction of the innermost glucose residue of the oligosaccharide side chains with resident ER molecular chaperones, such as calnexin and calreticulin (Helenius et al. (1997) Trends Cell Biol. 7:193-200, Zapun et al. (1997) Cell 88:29-38). It has been suggested that trimming of the N-glycan by glucosidases I and II and interaction with calnexin and calreticulin facilitate the proper folding and translocation of wild type glycoproteins. Trimming of glucose residues by glucosidases and of mannose residues by ER mannosidases is thought to be involved in the degradation of misfolded, unassembled, or mutant glycoproteins (Liu et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272:7946-7951; Liu et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274:5861-5867; Jakob et al. (1998) J. Cell Biol. 142:1223-1233; Kearse et al. (1994) EMBO J. 13:3678-3686; Moore et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268:3809-3813; Yang et al. (1998) J. Exp. Med. 187:835-846; Vierhoeven et al. (1999) Biochem. J. 337:133-140). NAGLU has six sites of N-glycosylation (N261, N272, N435, N503, N526, and N532) and with the aid of the three-dimensional structural information provided herein the asparagine residues may be altered, replaced, or deleted according to the three-dimensional structural information provided herein to modulate NAGLU enzymatic function and/or to alter subcellular localization.

NAGLU Folding, Stability and Therapies Involving Chemical Chaperones

The lumen of the ER provides a highly specialized compartment for the folding and oligomeric assembly of secretory proteins, plasma membrane proteins, and proteins destined for the various organelles of the vacuolar system. Their conformational maturation is a complex process determined by the primary amino acid sequence, by post- and co-translational modifications, by the intralumenal milieu, and by a variety of chaperones and folding enzymes (Gething and Sambrook (1992) Nature.; 355:33-45.; Helenius et al. (1992) Trends Cell Biol.; 8:227-31). The ER possesses efficient quality control mechanisms to ensure that transport is limited to properly folded and assembled proteins (Hurtley and Helenius (1989) Annu Rev Cell Biol. 5:277-307). It has been shown that some human genetic diseases are due to mutations in proteins that influence their folding and lead to retaining of mutant proteins in the ER and successive degradation (Bychkova and Ptitsyn (1995) FEBS Lett. 359:6-8.; Welch and Brown (1996) Cell Stress Chaperones 1:109-15). Genetically inherited diseases are often characterized by specific point mutations or deletions which give rise to proteins that fail to fold properly. In some cases, the mutations result in the protein exhibiting only a partial loss of its normal activity. The mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) phenotype is associated with a large number of missense, nonsense, and deletion mutations, with the missense mutations being the most frequent. These mutations are thought to influence the protein by reducing its stability and resulting in less functional enzyme reaching the lysosome.

Since instability of mutated NAGLU may result in the MPS III-B phenotype, one approach to treating diseases that stem from decreased protein stability involves the use of small molecules (Amaral (2006) J Inherited Metabol Dis 29:477-487). Compounds called “chemical chaperones” have been described that bind to the newly synthesized polypeptide and increase its stability.

Chemical chaperones as described herein are particularly useful for stabilizing NAGLU polypeptides that comprise one or more mutations that make the polypeptide less stable than the native (wild-type form). Such NAGLU mutants may be degraded more rapidly, thereby lowering their steady-state levels below what is required to maintain the enzymatic function and thus the health of the cell. Such NAGLU mutants may also aggregate when they unfold and such aggregates may themselves be toxic to the cell. There are many severe human diseases that arise from either mutations that destabilize an essential protein or the age-dependent build-up of toxic misfolded forms of normal proteins (Loo et al. (2007) Expert Rev Mol Med 9:1-18). Chemical chaperones may be used to stabilize the native fold of the protein, preventing aggregation and restoring (or at least partially restoring) proper steady-state levels. There is a particular need for chaperone activity in compartments where proteins are subjected to unusual environmental stress, such as the mitochondrion, where large amounts of reactive oxygen species are present, the lysozome, which has a low pH and a high content of degradative enzymes, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where many unstable mutant proteins may misfold during synthesis. It is well known in the art that the binding of an inhibitor to an enzyme stabilizes the enzyme against thermal denaturation, in some cases by 10° C. or more (Sanchez-Ruiz J M (2007) Biophys Chem 126:43-49). Inhibitor binding is also often used in crystallography since liganded proteins tend to crystallize more readily than their unliganded counterparts because their structures are more stable. In certain embodiments, the chemical chaperone is an enzyme inhibitor or active-site-directed ligand. A preferred inhibitor or active-site-directed ligand is a reversible inhibitor. A reversible inhibitor may allow the presence of an equilibrium amount of free enzyme (Fan J Q (2008) Biol Chem 389:1-11), which is available for substrate binding, which in turn may also stabilize the protein, to inhibitor bound enzyme. It should be appreciated that the affinity of the inhibitor to the binding site is important, since high affinity binding may lead the inhibitor to be effectively irreversible, while low binding affinity may make the chaperone activity ineffective. In certain embodiments, inhibitors with a K_(i) (equilibrium disassociation constant) close to the K_(m) (Michaelis-Menten constant) of the substrate or exhibiting a K_(i) that is higher may be particularly useful. It should be appreciated that a dose of a chemical chaperone that inhibits the target polypeptide that is high enough to significantly reduce the enzymatic activity should be avoided. Dosing regimens may be used that employ administering the dose in particular time intervals interrupted by periods of non-administration rather than dosing continuously. Controlled release may also be needed in some cases. In some cases mutated proteins may be so unstable that they cannot be effectively chaperoned by inhibitors because the concentration required to achieve beneficial stabilization would lead to loss of activity. In such cases, binding compounds that bind to the polypeptide outside of the active site (also known as “exosites”) may be employed. For example, high affinity specific binding anywhere on the surface of a polypeptide may confer stabilization as a result of the increased number of interactions. To identify suitable sites that are available to bind small molecule chaperones (e.g., sites that are not tightly bound to water molecules that prevent access to many sites of the protein surface (Ringe D. (1995) Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 5:825-829), these sites can be mapped crystallographically (Mattos et al. (2006) J. Mol. Biol. 357:1471-1482) and computationally (Landon et al. 2009 J. Comput. Aided Mol. Des. 23:491-500) for example using the atomic coordinates provided herein. Suitable exosites may be identified in silico and libraries of small organic compounds can be tested for compounds that bind to the exosite. The predicted binders may be screened for thermal stabilization of the enzyme using, e.g., in a fluorescence-based assay. A successful binding may increase thermal stabilization by one or several degrees (e.g., 1° C., 2° C., 3° C., 4° C., 5° C., 6° C., 7° C., 8° C., 9° C., 10° C., or more).

Mutant proteins (partially or fully folded) that are stabilized by chemical chaperones can be transported out of the endoplasmic reticulum more efficiently and may avoid intracellular degradation (Amaral (2006) J. Inherited Metabol. Dis. 29:477-487; Lieberman et al. (2007) Nat Chem Biol 3:101-107; Steet et al. (2006) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:13813-13818; Tropak et al. (2004) J Biol Chem 279:13478-13487; Sawkar et al. (2002) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:15428-15433; Fan J Q, et al. (1999) Nat Med 5:112-115; Asano et al. (2001) Med Chem 1:145-154). Mutant lysosomal enzymes that are unstable, including NAGLU mutants, may be retained in the endoplasmic reticulum by cellular quality control mechanisms and fail to traffic to lysosomes leading to their aggregation and or degradation (Ellgaard et al. (1999) Science 286:1882-1888; Yogalingam et al. (2000) Biochim Biophys Acta 1502:415-425; Lieberman et al. (2007) Nat Chem Biol 3:101-107; Steet et al. (2006) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:13813-13818; Tropak et al. (2004) J Biol Chem 279:13478-13487; Sawkar et al. (2002) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:15428-15433; Fan et al. (1999) Nat Med 5:112-115; Asano et al. (2001) Med Chem 1:145-154). Analogous to what has been suggested for genetic disorders, such as Fabry disease and cystic fibrosis, the use of compounds that can elicit the proper folding and trafficking of mutant proteins might prove to be an effective strategy for the treatment of genetic disorders such as mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B). A functional compound that can elicit the correct folding of a mutant protein may serve as a specific chemical chaperone for the mutant protein to promote the successful escape from the ER quality control mechanisms (Fan et al. (1999) Nat Med. 5:112-5). A chemical chaperone therapy such as it was shown in Fabry disease may also be applicable to other type of lysosomal storage diseases. Inhibitors of lysosomal glycosidases may be used as chemical chaperones to bind to and stabilize mutant NAGLU, aiding or facilitating NAGLU maturation and trafficking of NAGLU to lysosomes. Such inhibitors can be reversible inhibitors. Once in the lysosome, some NAGLU mutant enzymes may have sufficient catalytic activity to support normal cellular functioning. Mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) treatment may be aided by chemical chaperones acting on mutant NAGLU. It should be appreciated that chemical chaperones or other binding compounds may bind to NAGLU outside the active site. In certain embodiments, chemical chaperones are provided that bind to sites that are outside of the binding site. Such sites may be anywhere on the NAGLU polypeptide and may be located, for example, directly at or immediately adjacent to NAGLU mutations associated with MPS III-B. Other suitable binding locations for chemical chaperones or other compounds may be further removed from the site(s) of mutation. The distance to the site of mutation may be determined either by the number of intervening amino acids between the one or more altered or mutated residues and the one or more residues of the binding site according to the primary structure, or may be determined as physical distance according to the three-dimensional (tertiary) structure.

The three-dimensional structural information provided herein will aid in the identification and development of novel compounds which may possess chaperone activity that may lead for example to a stabilization of the mutated NAGLU enzyme, which may prevent rapid turnover (degradation), may prevent aggregation, may increase the enzymatic activity of the NAGLU enzyme and/or may determine the sub-cellular localization of the NAGLU enzyme. With the help of the three-dimensional structural information provided herein efficient chemical chaperones that specifically target NAGLU to treat MPS III-B may be identified, designed and developed.

Combination of Approaches to Treat Mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)

Methods to treat MPS III-B may involve naglu gene replacement, NAGLU enzyme replacement strategies, interference with NAGLU glycosylation, and/or the use of chemical chaperones as well as combinations of these approaches, and these approaches may be used alone or in combination with additional intervention strategies. For example, gensteine, an inhibitor of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, that is able to cross the blood-brain-barrier has been investigated in vitro on MSP III-B derived fibroblasts and has been shown to inhibit GAG synthesis in these cells (Malinowska et al. (2009) Mol Genet Metab. 98:235-42). Such approaches may help to minimize GAG accumulation as a consequence of reduced or missing enzymatic activity of NAGLU mutants.

Design, Identification, and Screening of Potential NAGLU Binding Compounds

It is one object of the present invention to use the atomic coordinates of NAGLU (Table 3) to design, identify, and screen potential binding compounds that bind to NAGLU or a related member of the family 89 glycoside hydrolases (α-N-acetylglucosaminidases) and alter NAGLU's physical, chemical, and/or physiological properties. Novel compounds obtained from this screen may further be identified as being able to restore (partially or fully) aspects of GAG degradation in vitro for example in assays involving in cell lines expressing mutated NAGLU or in biochemical assays, for example, using buffered enzyme/substrate systems. In another embodiment, novel compounds obtained from this screen may be identified as being able to treat mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) in human subjects.

The atomic coordinates of NAGLU (Table 3) can also be used to computationally screen for small molecule compounds that bind to NAGLU and/or a NAGLU family member in order to select, design, and develop potential binding compounds of NAGLU and/or a NAGLU family member. It should be understood that a potential binding compound according to this invention may bind to an active site or any other site which is not identified as an active site. In certain embodiments, the potential binding compound according to this invention may bind specifically to one or more sites on the NAGLU polypeptide (be it nascent, partially or fully folded) where mutations have occurred. In certain embodiments, the potential binding compounds according to this invention function as chemical chaperones. It should be appreciated that binding compound other than chemical chaperones or small molecular weight compounds could be used. For example, certain polypeptides may be used to stabilize the NAGLU polypeptide. Such polypeptides may have chaperone or co-chaperone activity and may comprise fragments of cellular chaperones or co-chaperones or the polypeptides may comprise full-length cellular chaperones. Cellular chaperones and co-chaperones may include eukaryotic or prokaryotic chaperones and co-chaperones, such as mammalian chaperones and co-chaperones and bacterial chaperones and co-chaperones, respectively. Other chaperones and co-chaperones, e.g., from yeast or insects may also be useful. Useful chaperone activity may be provided by polypeptides comprising amino acid sequences based on fragments or protein domains of Hsp60 (GroEL/GroES complex in E. coli), Hsp70 (DnaK in E. coli), Hsp90 (HtpG in E. coli), Hsp100 (Clp family in E. coli), and others such as BiP, GRP94, or GRP170.

In certain embodiments, the potential binding compound is a potential inhibitor or activator compound. In certain embodiments, the potential binding compound is a potential NAGLU (mutant NAGLU) inhibitor or activator compound. In certain embodiments, the potential inhibitor or activator compound is a competitive, uncompetitive or non-competitive inhibitor or activator compound. In certain embodiments, the potential inhibitor is a reversible inhibitor. Those of skill in the art may identify potential inhibitors or activators as competitive, uncompetitive or non-competitive or reversible inhibitors or activators by computer fitting enzyme kinetic data using standard equations according to, for example, Enzyme Kinetics by Segel (1975) J. Wiley & Sons, incorporated herein by reference, or by employing assays which measure the ability of a potential inhibitor or activator to modulate NAGLU (mutant NAGLU) enzymatic activity (e.g., hydrolysis of terminal N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminides). Examples of N-acetylglucosaminidase inhibitors are: 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxynojirimycin (2AcDNJ) (Horsch et al. (1991) Euro. J. Biochem. 197:815-818), O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc) (Beer et al. (1990) Helv Chim Acta 73:1918-1922), and 6-acetamido-6-deoxycastanospermine (6AcCAS) (Liu et al. (1991) Tetrahedron Lett 32:719-720). Reversible inhibitors may be particularly useful. Inhibitor or activator compounds may bind to the active site or may associate with sites outside of the active site (exosites). Inhibitor or activator compounds whether bound to the active site or bound to exosites may help to stabilize the NAGLU (mutant NAGLU) polypeptide.

It should be appreciated that enhancers of NAGLU enzymatic activity may also be used. Enhancers of NAGLU enzymatic activity may not need to be NAGLU binding compounds, but may be compounds that have effects on molecules other than NAGLU. Enhancers may, for example, increase cellular trafficking of NAGLU by changing the intracellular milieu, the permeability and/or composition of cell organelles or transporters.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the design and identification of a potential binding compound for NAGLU and/or a NAGLU family member, comprising the steps of: (a) using a three-dimensional structure of NAGLU as defined by the atomic coordinates provided in Table 3; (b) employing the three-dimensional structure to design and/or select the potential binding compound; and (c) synthesizing and/or choosing the potential binding compound.

Suitable computer programs which may be used in the design and selection of potential binding compounds (e.g., by selecting suitable chemical fragments) include, but are not limited to, GRID (Goodford (1985) J. Med. Chem. 28:849 857); MCSS (Miranker, A. and M. Karplus, (1991) Proteins: Structure. Function and Genetics, 11:29-34); AUTODOCK (Goodsell, D. S, and A. J. Olsen (1990) Proteins: Structure. Function, and Genetics 8:195 202); and DOCK (Kuntz, I. D. et al. (1982) J. Mol. Biol. 161:269-288), the entirety of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable computer programs which may be used in connecting the individual chemical entities or fragments include, but are not limited to, CAVEAT (Bartlett, (1989) Molecular Recognition in Chemical and Biological Problems, Special Pub., Royal Chem. Soc. 78:182-196); and 3D Database systems such as MACCS-3D by MDL Information Systems, San Leandro, Calif.), HOOK (Molecular Simulations, Burlington, Mass.) and as reviewed in Martin, Y. C., (1992) J. Med. Chem. 35:2145 2154), the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In addition to the method of building or identifying a potential binding compound in a step-wise fashion (e.g., one fragment or chemical entity at a time as described above), potential binding compounds may be designed as a whole or “de novo” using either an empty active site or, optionally, including some portion(s) of a known inhibitor(s), activator(s) or stabilizer(s). Suitable computer programs include, but are not limited to, LUDI (Bohm, (1992) J. Comp. Aid. Molec. Design 6:61-78); LEGEND (Nishibata, Y. and A. Itai, (1991) Tetrahedron 47:8985); and LEAPFROG (Tripos Associates, St. Louis, Mo.). Other molecular modeling techniques may also be employed in accordance with this invention; see, for example, Cohen, N. C. et al. (1990) J. Med. Chem. 33: 883-894, and Navia (1992) Current Opinions in Structural Biology 2:202-210, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Once a potential binding compound has been designed, selected, identified, synthesized, or chosen by the methods described herein, the affinity with which that compound binds to NAGLU and/or a NAGLU family member may be tested and optimized by computational evaluation. A compound designed, or selected, or synthesized, or chosen as potential binding compound or may be further computationally optimized so that in its bound state it would preferably lack repulsive electrostatic interaction with the target site. Such non-complementary (e.g., electrostatic) interactions include repulsive charge-charge, dipole-dipole and charge-dipole interactions. Specifically, the sum of all electrostatic interactions between the potential binding compound and the site at which it is bound to NAGLU and/or a NAGLU family member, in certain embodiments, make a neutral or favorable contribution to the enthalpy of binding. Suitable computer software which may be used to evaluate compound deformation energy and electrostatic interactions, includes, but is not limited to, Gaussian 92, revision C by M. J. Frisch, Gaussian, Inc., (1992) Pittsburgh, Pa.; AMBER, version 4.0 by P. A. Kollman, (1994) University of California at San Francisco; QUANTA/CHARMM by Molecular Simulations, Inc., (1994) Burlington, Mass.; and Insight II/Discover by Biosysm Technologies Inc., (1994) San Diego, Calif. These programs may be implemented, for example, using a Silicon Graphics workstation, IRIS 4D/35 or IBM RISC/6000 workstation model 550. Hardware systems, such as an IBM thinkpad with LINUX operating system or a DELL latitude D630 with WINDOWS operating system, may be used. Other hardware systems and software packages will be known to those skilled in the art of which the speed and capacity are continually modified.

In certain embodiments, binding compounds may be specifically designed and/or selected and/or synthesized and/or chosen by the above methods to induce non-complementary (e.g., electrostatic) interactions, such as repulsive charge-charge, dipole-dipole and charge-dipole interactions. In certain embodiments, the sum of all electrostatic interactions between the potential binding compound and the site at which it is bound to NAGLU and/or a NAGLU family member make a contribution to the enthalpy of binding that is not neutral.

In certain embodiments, the above method comprises using a suitable computer program in designing and/or selecting a potential binding compound.

Additionally, in certain embodiments, the above method comprises using a suitable computer program in conjunction with synthesizing and/or choosing the potential binding compound.

Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the above method further comprises the steps of using a suitable assay, as described herein, to characterize the potential binding compound's influence on NAGLU activity, stability, folding, and/or intracellular localization. In certain embodiments, the above method further comprises: (d) contacting the potential binding compound with mutated NAGLU and/or a related mutated NAGLU family member in the presence of a substrate; and (e) determining the amount of substrate conversion of the mutated from compared to a wild-type (non-mutated) NAGLU to determine the effect of the potential binding compound on NAGLU enzymatic activity.

Alternatively, in certain embodiments, the above method further comprises the steps of: (d) contacting the potential binding compound with a cell that expresses mutated NAGLU; and (e) determining the effect of the binding compound on NAGLU activity in the cell. In certain embodiments, step (e) may comprise determining the effect of the binding compound on intracellular localization of NAGLU. In certain embodiments, step (e) may comprise determining the effect of the binding compound on intracellular concentration of NAGLU (e.g., determining the rate of turnover/degradation of NAGLU in the cell).

It is another object of the invention to provide methods for solving the structures of other proteins which belong to NAGLU or NAGLU family member that comprise one or more mutations (as referenced in Table 4), such as missense, nonsense, and/or deletion mutations that may be associated with MPS III-B, that may have been identified in the naglu gene without being associated with MPS III-B, and/or that are thought to reduce NAGLU stability and resulting in less functional enzyme reaching the lysosome. Structures of crystallized proteins comprising such alterations in the primary amino acid sequence as well as NAGLU orthologs or homologs of other organisms sharing some sequence homology and/or identity to the primary amino acid sequence of NAGLU may be solved by molecular replacement with NAGLU structural information provided by the present invention (Table 3).

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method for solving the structure of NAGLU, mutated NAGLU or a NAGLU family member comprising the steps of: (a) collecting X-ray diffraction data of a NAGLU crystal complexed to a binding compound (such as a chaperone), a NAGLU mutant crystal or a NAGLU-family member crystal; (b) using the atomic coordinates of NAGLU according to Table 3 to perform molecular replacement with the X-ray diffraction data of the NAGLU crystal complexed to a binding compound, a NAGLU mutant crystal or a NAGLU-family member crystal; and (c) determining the structure of NAGLU crystal complexed to a binding compound, a NAGLU mutant crystal, or a NAGLU-family member crystal.

Additionally, the present invention provides a method of evaluating the binding properties of a potential binding compound comprising the steps of: (a) soaking a potential binding compound with crystalline NAGLU, crystalline NAGLU mutant or a crystalline NAGLU family member to provide a crystalline NAGLU complexed to a binding compound, a crystalline NAGLU mutant complexed to a binding compound or a crystalline NAGLU-family member complexed to a binding compound; (b) determining the three-dimensional structure of the crystalline NAGLU complexed to the binding compound, the crystalline NAGLU mutant complexed to the binding compound or the crystalline NAGLU-family member complexed to the binding compound by molecular replacement using the three-dimensional structure of NAGLU as defined by atomic coordinates according to Table 3; and (c) analyzing the three-dimensional structure of the crystalline NAGLU complexed to the binding compound, the crystalline NAGLU mutant complexed to the binding compound or the crystalline NAGLU-family member complexed to the binding compound to the unbound potential binding compound to evaluate the binding characteristics of the potential binding compound. To evaluate binding properties of binding compounds, assays may be used, such as, calorimetric techniques (e.g. isothermal titration calometry, differential scanning calometry), or Biacore™ can be used for initial screening. Other assays are known in the art. For further optimization, co-crystallization may be useful to determine the structure of NAGLU-binding compound complexes.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide methods for solving the structures or partially solving the structure of other proteins which comprise protein domains of similar function, other homology domains, or proteins that comprise amino acid sequences of high homology or identity. Such protein structures may be solved using some or all of the structural information provided in Table 3). In some embodiments, molecular replacement methods may be employed to solve such structures using the structural information provided by the present invention (Table 3).

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be more specifically illustrated by the following examples. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited by these examples in any manner.

Example 1 Crystallization and Structure Determination of NAGLU

Described herein is the crystallization and determination of structure of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) at a resolution of 2.9 Å and 2.4 Å by X-ray crystallography.

1.1. Experimental Design

NAGLU was expressed in HT1080 cells that were cultured at 37° C. to 2-3 million cells per mL. The temperature was decreased to 33° C. and the culture was treated with 2.5 mg/L of kifunensine (a mannosidase I inhibitor). Conditioned media containing secreted NAGLU was harvested 48 hours after starting kifunensine treatment. The resulting protein is abbreviated as Naglu-kif. Secreted protein was purified from culture media by hydrophobic butyl column followed by anion exchange Q column (as described in Example 3).

While purifying NAGLU-kif, a fine precipitate appeared at the final concentrating step. At this stage the protein was in Q column buffer which is 20 mM Tris pH=7.5 and approximately 100 mM NaCl. The precipitation started appearing at the bottom of the concentrator when protein concentration was over 1 mg/mL. Concentrating process was stopped at that point, the protein was taken out of concentrator and stored at 4° C. Next day morning more crystalline precipitation was observed and when checked under optical microscope these precipitates were found to be needle shaped crystals of 50-100 micron size in the longest dimension (FIG. 1). These crystals were dissolving slowly when incubated at room temperature, which indicated that the protein was at the solubility limit and crystallizes out upon lowering the temperature to 4° C.

A crystal of 100×20×20 micron size was tested in X-ray diffractometer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) X-ray Crystallography Facility at room temperature. This crystal diffracted to a maximum resolution of 3.5 Å upon long exposure of 30 min per frame on an in-house rotating anode X-ray beam. Unit cell parameters could be calculated from this diffraction image. Naglu-kif crystal belongs to hexagonal space group with dimensions a=b=207.5 Å, c=79.6 Å, α=β=90° and γ=120°. Longer exposure on x-ray beam at room temperature damaged the crystals which prevented the collection of a complete data-set and structure determination. However, from the diffraction pattern and unit cell parameters it was confirmed that the crystals are actually made of NAGLU protein and had a calculated solvent content of about 80%.

Crystallization screening and optimization were carried out at BIDMC X-ray Crystallography facility, in order to grow crystals of sufficient quality and size that would facilitate collection of a complete diffraction data set. Optimization of cryo-conditions to freeze the crystals at liquid-N₂ temperature was also carried out to collect diffraction data at liquid N₂ temperature that would attenuate the radiation damage of crystals.

X-ray diffraction data collection and processing were done at BIDMC X-ray Diffraction Facility (2.9 Å data collection) and Brookhaven National Laboratory (3.2 Å and 2.4 Å data collection). Structure determination, model building and refinement were done using software such as Molrep, coot and Refmac that were part of CCP4 software suite. MolRep is a program for automated molecular replacement (MolRep, version 10.2.35). Coot Graphical Interface by Paul Emsley (www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/˜emsley) for model building includes an interface to refmac5 and is freely available (Gnu Public License). Refmac5 (version 5.5.0072 and 5.5.019). Macromolecular refinement program by Garib Murshudov et al. is integrated into the CCP4 program suite (www.ccp4.ac.uk) (CCP4 version 6.1.3). Structural analyses were done using molecular viewer software PYMOL (www.pymol.org). Initial processing (indexing/integration/scaling) was performed using HKL2000 (HKL Research, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.).

1.2 Research Methods

1.2.1 Crystallization Screening and Cryo Optimization

Initial crystals of Naglu-kif were obtained serendipitously during protein purification when Q column fractions were concentrated on Vivaspin20 concentrators with 10 kDa molecular weight cut-off. These initial crystals were not of high enough quality and size that they could be used for complete diffraction data collection.

In order to generate crystals of sufficient quality two different approaches were undertaken. 1) Naglu-kif was screened for new crystallization conditions using random matrix crystallization screening kit. 2) NAGLU-kif crystals that appeared in Q column buffer (20 mM Tris pH=7.5 and 100 mM NaCl) were dehydrated by equilibrating against the same buffer containing 30% PEG 8000 in a sitting drop vapor diffusion tray to improve the diffraction limit.

Naglu-kif (1 mg/mL in PBS) was first dialyzed to 20 mM Tris pH=7.5 and 100 mM NaCl in dialysis buttons. The dialyzed protein was used to screen for new crystallization conditions using Qiagen NeXtal Classic Suite crystal screen kit (Qiagen catalog #130701; QIAGEN Inc., Valencia Calif.) and sitting drop vapor diffusion method. Crystal hits were seen in many different conditions and are summarized in Table 1. Crystals from condition #58 (0.01 M nickel chloride, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, 1.0 M lithium sulfate) were thick and were used to collect a 3.2 Å diffraction data-set at synchrotron beam.

TABLE 1 Composition of crystallization buffers from Qiagen NeXtal Classic Suite that gave crystal hits. Condition No. Salt Buffer Precipitant-1 Precipitant-2 Notes 58 0.01M Nickel 0.1M TRIS pH 1.0M Lithium thick needle chloride 8.5 sulfate crystals 63 0.1M TRIS. HCl 8% (w/v) PEG thin needle pH 8.5 8000 crystals 64 0.1M HEPES pH 10% (w/v) PEG thin needle 7.5 8000 crystals 66 0.2M Zinc 0.1M Sodium 18% (w/v) PEG tiny dot cystals acetate cacodylate pH 6.5 8000 73 2.0M 0.1M HEPES 2% (v/v) PEG precipitate/thin Ammonium sodium salt pH 400 needles sulfate 7.5 78 0.1M Sodium 0.1M BICINE 20% (w/v) PEG very thin chloride pH 9.0 550 MME needle crystals 79 0.01M Zinc 0.1M MES pH 25% (w/v) PEG tiny dot sulfate 6.5 550 MME crystals 82 0.01M Nickel 0.1M TRIS pH 20% (w/v) PEG thin needle chloride 8.5 2000 MME crystals 93 0.1M HEPES pH 10% (w/v) PEG 5% (v/v) MPD thin needle 7.5 6000 crystals 96 0.1M MES pH 12% (w/v) PEG thin needle 6.5 20000 crystals

Since the NAGLU crystals had high solvent content, dehydrating the crystals was tried to improve the diffraction limit. For dehydration, the crystals that appeared in Q column buffer, were equilibrated against the same buffer containing 30% PEG 8000 in a sitting drop vapor diffusion tray. In a typical experiment, 20 μl of suspension containing needle crystals in 20 mM Tris pH=7.5 and 100 mM NaCl was equilibrated for 2 days against one mL of 20 mM Tris pH=7.5, 100 mM NaCl and 30% w/v PEG8000 in a sitting drop vapor diffusion tray at room temperature. The resulted crystals were about 150×50×50 micron in size and were used for screening cryo-condition.

For cryo-protection, crystallization buffers containing 20-35% v/v of polyols, such as glycerol, ethylene glycol or MPD or 35-70% w/v of sugars, such as sucrose or xylitol were tried. Crystals were soaked in the cryo-buffer for 5-15 minutes and visually checked for crystal integrity. Cryo-protected crystal were frozen in a liquid N₂ stream on an in-house X-ray diffractometer and tested for diffraction quality. Crystals grown in condition #58 (0.01 M nickel chloride, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, 1.0 M lithium sulfate, Table 1) were cryo-protected with crystallization buffer containing 25% glycerol and frozen in liquid nitrogen before collecting data at the synchrotron beam. Best cryo-protection for crystals grown in Q column buffer was achieved when a cryo-containing glycerol and xylitol (20 mM Tris pH=7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 15% glycerol, and 20% xylitol) buffer was used, which gave a diffraction resolution of 2.9 Å at the in-house x-ray diffractometer and 2.4 Å at synchrotron beam.

1.2.2 Diffraction Data Collection and Structure Determination

X-ray diffraction data collection and initial processing were done at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) x-ray crystallography facility. Three diffraction data sets were collected for NAGLU crystals, first a 3.2 Å data set at synchrotron beam, then a 2.9 Å data set at in-house X-ray diffractometer and finally a 2.4 Å data set at synchrotron beam. The 3.2 Å data was collected for a crystal grown in condition #58 (0.01 M nickel chloride, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, 1.0 M lithium sulfate, Table 1) and cryo-protected with 25% glycerol. For 2.9 Å data set, a cryo-protected crystal was mounted on Rigaku RUH3R in-house X-ray diffractometer (Rigaku Americas Corporation, The Woodlands, Tex.) equipped with R-AXIS-IV image plate. Diffraction data were collected with 1° oscillation and 120 frames were collected at 5 min exposure per frame. Data merging and scaling were done using HKL2000 (HKL Research, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.). Initial model of NAGLU was obtained by molecular replacement method using the program Molrep and CpGH89 structure (PDB ID: 2VCC) as search model. All the side chains were removed from the coordinates of CpGH89 and the resulting poly-alanine model was used to get the initial phases. Further model building and refinement were done using coot and Refmac respectively. For the 2.9 Å data-set, the model was refined to a final R factor of 18.7% and R_(free) of 22.9%. For the 2.4 Å data-set, the model was refined to a final R factor of 17.46% and R_(free) of 19.81%.

Example 2 2.1 Crystallization and Cryo Protection

Initial crystals of Naglu-kif were obtained when purified protein was concentrated above 1 mg/mL. These crystals were confirmed to be made of NAGLU protein by testing the crystals in X-ray diffraction at room temperature. These crystals were too small to collect a complete data set and were diffracting to only ˜3.5 Å after 30 min exposure per frame. Radiation damage of protein crystal occurred due to long exposure on X-ray beam at room temperature that resulted in poor diffraction resolution in subsequent frames. Moreover the higher solvent content (about 80%) in the crystals caused damage to the crystal due to shock when transferred into cryo-buffer. These issues warranted further optimization of crystallization and cryo-protection in order to get a complete diffraction data set.

Naglu-kif R3 was dialyzed overnight against 20 mM Tris pH=7.5 and 100 mM NaCl and concentrated to 1.2 mg/mL. Crystallization screening was done for Naglu-kif using random matrix crystallization screening kits from Qiagen (NeXtal Classic Suite) by sitting drop vapor diffusion method. Since the protein was in near saturation, crystal hits were seen in many different conditions in the pH range of 6.5 to 9.0 that included PEG conditions as well as a salt condition (Table 1).

Crystals grown in crystallization buffer containing PEG did not diffract well in in-house X-ray diffractometer at room temperature. A lithium sulfate condition (condition #58, 0.01 M nickel chloride, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, 1.0 M lithium sulfate) was giving bigger crystals of up to 200−300×50×50 micron. One of these crystals, cryo-protected in crystallization buffer containing 25% glycerol, diffracted to 3.2 Å at synchrotron beam (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y.). Lower resolution of such a large crystal was mainly due to crystal damage upon freezing in the cryo-protectant. Nonetheless this 3.2 Å data set was sufficient to solve the structure of NAGLU using the molecular replacement method. Analysis of this 3.2 Å structural model confirmed that there is one molecule in the asymmetric unit of NAGLU crystals and thus the crystals are made of 79% solvent and only ˜20% of protein mass. Such a large solvent content caused the crystal to damage easily when transferred to cryo-buffer that resulted in poor diffraction resolution. In order to improve the resolution of the structure beyond 3.2 Å, additional screening of cryo-conditions was carried out.

NAGLU crystals grown in 20 mM Tris pH=7.5 and 100 mM NaCl buffer were of medium size, in the order of 150×50×50 micron. These crystals were used to screen for better cryo-conditions as sufficient number these crystals were available and these crystals were dehydrated by equilibrating against buffer containing 30% PEG 8000. Moreover, medium sized crystals are known to tolerate the shock well when transferred into cryo-buffer.

In the first round of cryo-screening, crystals were soaked for 5 min in crystallization buffer 20 mM Tris pH=7.5, 100 mM NaCl containing 20, 25 or 30% v/v of glycerol, ethylene glycol or 2-Methyl-2,4-pentanediol. Crystals were visually inspected for the integrity before freezing and checked for diffraction after freezing in liquid nitrogen stream on a rotating anode X-ray diffractometer. At 20% cryo-protectant there were ice rings on the diffraction image and at 25 and 30% diffraction spots were split, an indication of crystal damage as well as diffraction resolutions were low.

For the second round of screening, sucrose or xylitol was used as cryo-protectant. When added to 35% w/v to the crystallization buffer ice ring was seen in the diffraction image. Ice rings disappeared when the sugar was increased to 70% w/v in the crystallization buffer, however loss of diffraction resolution was noticed when compared to the diffraction limit obtained for a similar crystal at room temperature.

When the crystals were soaked in a cryo-buffer containing 15% glycerol and 20% xylitol in 20 mM Tris pH=7.5 and 100 mM NaCl and dehydrated for 15 min at room temperature the resulted crystals diffracted better than 3 Å with well defined spherical diffraction spots. In one experiment 2-4 crystals were transferred into a well containing 200 μl of cryo-buffer (20 mM Tris pH=7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 15% glycerol and 20% xylitol) and soaked for 15 min. The well containing crystals in the cryo-buffer, was left open facilitating dehydration as well as annealing of the crystals. Cryo-protected crystals were frozen in liquid nitrogen stream on a rotating anode X-ray diffractometer. Some of these crystals were frozen in liquid nitrogen for data collection at synchrotron beam.

Diffraction data were collected at in-house X-ray diffractometer with 1° oscillation and 5 minute exposure per frame. A total of 120 frames were collected in the phi region predicted by HKL2000 strategy simulation for better completeness. The 2.4 Å data was collected at synchrotron beam with 1° oscillation and 3 second exposure and a total of 165 frames were collected. Data was indexed to a hexagonal P6₃ space group, merged and scaled in HKL2000 software suite.

2.2 Structure Determination

The processed hkl file from HKL2000 was imported into the CCP4 software suite and 5% of the data was set aside for R_(free) calculation. Initial phase information was obtained by Molecular replacement (MR) method using the program “Molrep” and the structure of CpGH89 (PDB ID: 2VCC) as search model.

Structure of CpGH89, a bacterial homolog of NAGLU has been reported recently (Ficko-Blean et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2008, 105:6560-5). It has a sequence identity of about 30% (FIG. 2) and belongs to the same class of enzyme as NAGLU. CpGH89 has an extra carbohydrate binding domain (CBD) of about 130 amino acids at the N-terminus. The CBD of CpGH89 as well as all the side chains were removed and only the poly-alanine model of CpGH89 was used in Molrep to find the initial MR phases for NAGLU.

A clear solution was obtained from rotational and translational search in Molrep. The resulted electron density map was continuous and most of the side chains could be build on this map. All the model building was done using graphical model building software “coot”. Loop regions were removed from this initial model and side chains were modeled wherever the electron densities were clear. Refinement was done for the resulting partial model using Refmac in CCP4, which improved the electron density map. Model building in coot and refinement using Refmac were repeated iteratively until a complete model was built on the electron density map. The final model of NAGLU obtained from the 2.9 Å crystal structure contained all the amino acids, from amino acid 24-743, including six glycans at positions N261, N272, N435, N503, N526 and N532. In 2.9 Å structure, the electron density obtained for the glycans attached to asparagine residues suggests at least one N-acetylglucosamine molecule each on N272, N526 and N532, two N-acetylglucosamine molecules each on N435 and N503, and two N-acetylglucosamine molecules and one mannose residue on N261. In 2.4 Å structure, the electron density obtained for the glycans attached to asparagine residues suggests at least one N-acetylglucosamine molecule attached to N261, N503, N526 and N532, and at least two N-acetylglucosamine molecules on N272 and N435. The final model at 2.9 Å has a R and R_(free) of 18.7 and 22.9%, respectively, and at 2.4 Å has a R and R_(free) of 17.46% and 19.81%, respectively, and other structural parameters are summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Structure data of Naglu-kif Space Group P6₃ P6₃ Cell dimensions a = b = 205.66 Å; c = a = b = 205.13 Å; c = 78.69 Å; α = β = 90°; 78.44 Å; α = β = 90°; γ = 120° γ = 120° Resolution (Å) 47.4-2.9 42.92-2.4 No. of Reflections 40230 69635 Completeness (%) 99.84 99.27 Refinement: R-Factor (%) 18.7 17.46 R_(free) (%) 22.9 19.81 No. of non- 5965 6170 hydrogen atoms Mean B Value (Å²) 36.8 41.5

2.3 Summary

Others have hypothesized in the literature that NAGLU was difficult to crystallize mainly because of difficulty in generating a large enough quantity of pure and homogeneous protein as well as inherent difficulty in generating crystals for proteins with heterogeneous complex glycosylation. Naglu-kif could readily be crystallized due to its higher purity, limited solubility and thus an increased tendency to crystallize at a concentration above about 1 mg/mL. Recombinant human NAGLU (rhNAGLU) expressed in HT1080 cells, which has trimmed glycans due to the presence of mannosidase-I in the HT1080 cells expressing naglu, has higher solubility and could be concentrated to up to 28 mg/mL. When rhNAGLU was concentrated above about 28 mg/mL, some crystalline precipitation was observed indicating that even rhNAGLU could be crystallized when concentrated close to its solubility limit.

Initial crystals of Naglu-kif gave low diffraction resolution on X-ray beam due to small size and high solvent content in the crystals. Dehydrated and cryo-protected crystals could successfully be used to get a complete diffraction set to a resolution of 2.9 Å in a rotating anode diffractometer and to a resolution of 2.4 Å in a synchrotron beam.

NAGLU crystal structure has been solved for the first time at a resolution of 2.4 Å. The crystals belong to the hexagonal P6₃ space group with one molecule in the asymmetric unit (FIG. 3). There are three domains in NAGLU and the catalytic site lays in domain II which is a (α/β)₈ barrel domain. Catalytic residues E316 and E446 are about 6 Å apart indicating that the acid/base catalysis follows a retaining double displacement mechanism similar to other members of the family 89 glycoside hydrolases (α-N-acetylglucosaminidases). When crystallographic symmetry parameters are applied to the molecule, a trimeric arrangement of NAGLU could been seen which is formed by the interaction of domain II (FIG. 4). This trimeric form is known to exist in solution from other experimental data including analytical ultra centrifugation, dynamic light scattering, and size exclusion chromatography. The crystal structure obtained allows for analyses and mapping of Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B)) mutations in the NAGLU structure.

Example 3 Expression and Purification of NAGLU-kif

Described in this Example is the expression in HT1080 cells and purification of NAGLU-kif, a recombinant human α-N-acetylglucosaminidase, cultured in a medium containing kifunensine, a potent inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase I.

3.1. Experimental Design

Naglu clone SP3-10D was scaled up for protein purification in shake flasks using CD-GLD-02 media. A 5 L working volume was seeded at 730,000 viable cells/mL and perfused at 5 L/day for a total of 4 days at 37° C. in growth phase. A transition phase of 24 hours was used to allow incorporation of the CD-GLD-02 media supplemented with 2 mg/L kifunensine at 33° C. Kifunensine is a potent inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase I. alpha-Mannosidase I catalyzes the removal of terminal, non-reducing alpha-D-mannose from high mannose glycan, which precede the formation of complex glycans. Proteins produced in cells treated with Kifunensine exhibit reduced content of complex N-linked oligosaccharides and increased content of Man₉(GlcNAc)₂ N-linked oligosaccharides. During the harvest phase a total of 44 L was harvested over 8 days and was stored at 4° C. until next step. A 12× ultrafiltration was performed and a total of 3.66 L concentrated conditioned media (CM) containing Naglu-kif was stored at −20° C. until purification. Naglu-kif was purified over a Butyl-Sepharose column followed by a Q-Sepharose column. Prior to loading on Butyl column, the concentrated CM was thawed and supplemented with NaCl to raise the conductivity. The purified Naglu-kif protein was concentrated and buffer exchanged into storage buffer. After the final dialysis step, the protein was sterile filtered and stored in −80° C.

3.2. Materials

Strain: Naglu_SP3-10D

Media: CD-GLD-02 (Gibco/Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.)

Materials:

Bottle Top Filter 0.22 μm PES, Corning Cat #431098

Bradford Protein Assay Reagent Kit A, Pierce Cat. #2322323200

GE Healthcare AKTA Pilot chromatography station

GE Healthcare Butyl Sepharose 4 Fast Flow resin

GE Healthcare AxiChrom 70×300 Column

GelCode Blue Stain Reagent, Pierce Cat. #24592

Invitrogen 8-16% Tris-Glycine Polyacrylamide Gels, Invitrogen Cat #EC6045.

Molecular Devices SPECTRAmax PLUS 384 Microplate Spectrophotometer

Pall Membrane: 0.5 m² PALL Centrasette II cassette 30K (Chisholm Corp/Pall Cat #OS030F06)

PBS, 10× without Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride, Fisher Cat. #BP 399-1

Pellicon 2 “Mini” Filter, Millipore Cat #P2B030A01

Spectra/Por Membrane MWCO: 12-14,000, Spectrum Laboratories Inc. Cat. #132678

Vivaspin 20 Concentrator (MWCO 10,000), Vivascience Inc Cat #VS2012

Butyl Equilibration Buffer: 20 mM Tris, 1 M Sodium Chloride, pH 7.5

Butyl Elution Buffer: 20 mM Tris, pH 7.5

Butyl Sanitization Buffer: 1 M NaOH

Butyl Storage Buffer: 20% ethanol

Q Equilibration Buffer: 20 mM. pH 7.5

Q Elution Buffer: 20 mM Tris, 1M Sodium Chloride, pH 7.5

Q Sanitization Buffer: 1M NaOH

Q Storage Buffer: 20% ethanol

Storage Buffer: 1×PBS (137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, and 11.9 mM Phosphate)

Reaction Buffer for Activity Assay: 0.1 M Sodium Acetate, 0.5 mg/ml BSA, pH4.5

Stop Buffer for Activity Assay: 0.2 M Glycine, pH 10.7

6× Sample Buffer: 1.0 mL 0.5 M Tris-HCl, pH 6.8, 0.8 mL Glycerol, 1.6 mL 10% SDS and 0.2 mL 0.5% Bromophenol Blue

Running Buffer: Tris Base, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), glycine

Novex Transfer Buffer: Tris Base, glycine, methanol, SDS

ECl Wash Buffer: 20 mM Tris, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20

3.3. Research Methods

HT1080 cells expressing human recombinant Naglu, clone Naglu_SP3-10D, were cultured in bioreactor with medium containing 2 mg/L kifunensine. The harvested CM was filtered, concentrated 12-fold to 3.2 L and stored in −20° C. freezer. To purify Naglu-kif, the 3.2 L concentrated CM was left at 4° C. for overnight to thaw, and then placed in a 25° C. water bath to thaw completely. After thawing, the concentrated CM was filtered again using 0.22 μm PES bottle top filter. Then, the concentrated CM was supplemented with 1 M sodium chloride by adding 5 M sodium chloride. 5 M sodium chloride was added slowly with gentle stirring. This adjusted CM, called the Butyl load, was then loaded on a Butyl column. Protein Recovery for each purification step was monitored by a Naglu activity assay and by a Bradford protein assay. All purification procedures were performed using precaution to reduce endotoxin contamination.

3.3.1. Butyl Sepharose 4 FF Column

The maximum binding capacity of the Butyl Sepharose 4 FF was experimentally determined to be 270,000 U of Naglu Activity per 1 mL of resin. To capture all of the Naglu-kif, 300 mL Butyl Sepharose 4 FF resin was packed in a XK50 column and equilibrated with 3 column volumes (CV) of Butyl Equilibration Buffer at 25 mL/min (76 cm/h). During loading, the flow rate was reduced to 15-20 mL/min (46-61 cm/h) to meet the pressure limits of the resin. After loading, column was washed with Butyl Equilibration Buffer until UV absorbance dropped to baseline. During the elution step, the flow rate was maintained at 76 cm/hr. The elution was done by a gradient that was set from 0-100% of Butyl Elution Buffer over 10 CV and followed by 4 CV of 100% of Butyl Elution Buffer. Thirty four fractions of 50 mL each were collected during the elution peak. Butyl elution fractions were analyzed using a Bradford assay, a Naglu activity assay, an SDS-PAGE Coomassie-stained gel and a Western Blot. Butyl fractions were pooled according to purity determined by the above analyses. Pooled Butyl fractions were concentrated down to 300 mL using Pellicon 2 “Mini” Filter with 10,000M molecular weight cut off (MWCO) and buffer exchanged once with 1 L of Q Equilibration Buffer. Final volume was 500 mL, and it was subsequently loaded on Q-Sepharose HP column.

3.3.2. Q-Sepharose HP Column

The 500 ml sample, Q load, from the previous step was divided to two 250 ml, and loaded on 75 ml of Q Sepharose HP column separately. The following paragraph describes one of the Q Sepharose HP column run. 75 mL Q Sepharose HP resin was packed in a XK26 column, charged with Q Elution Buffer and equilibrated with Q Equilibration Buffer. Loading was done at 10 mL/min (113 cm/h). After loading, the column was washed with Q Equilibration Buffer until the UV absorbance dropped to baseline. The elution gradient was set at 0-100% B over 10 CV, where B represents Q Elution Buffer. Seven ½ CV (37.5 mL) elution fractions were collected during the elution peak. The elution peak subsided at around 25% B. At this point, the gradient was switched to 100% B and maintained at 100% B. A peak appeared at 100% B, and the fractions collected during this peak were designated as the Strip fractions. The column was re-equilibrated for the second run. Q elution fractions were analyzed using a Bradford assay, a Naglu Activity assay, an SDS-PAGE Coomassie-stained gel and a Western Blot. Q fractions were pooled according to purity determined by the above analyses.

3.3.3. Buffer Exchange and Storage of Naglu

Pooled Q fractions, 150 mL, were concentrated down to 63 mL using six Vivaspin 20 concentrators with 10,000M MWCO. During the concentrating procedure, protein precipitation was observed. The precipitate was removed by centrifugation. To prevent further protein precipitation, 35 mL of filtrate was added back to the un-precipitated concentrated protein. The concentrated protein was dialyzed with three changes of PBS at 2 L each. More protein precipitation was observed during dialysis, and the precipitated protein was removed during sterile filtering. Purified Naglu-kif was sterile-filtered in a biosafety cabinet, aliquoted into siliconized tubes and stored at −80° C. The protein was designated Naglu-kif R3 (Research batch #3).

3.3.4. SDS-PAGE for Gelcode Blue Stain

All protein samples for gel analysis were prepared in micro-centrifuge tubes. The loading volume of the samples varied depending on the well size of the Invitrogen SDS-PAGE gels used. For the molecular weight standard, 4 μL of Precision Plus Marker was loaded. 2 μg of total protein was mixed with ⅙ loading volume of 6× Sample Buffer, 1/10 loading volume of 1 M DTT and then brought to the final volume with PBS. The mixture was boiled for 5 minutes, spun briefly, and loaded immediately on the gel. SDS-PAGE gels were run at 170-200 volts for 1 hour. Gel staining was done following the manufacturer's instructions for Gelcode Blue Staining Kit.

3.3.5. Bradford Protein Assay

Dilutions of protein samples were made in PBS in a reaction plate. 250 μL Coomassie (Bradford) Protein Reagent was added to 5 μL of the diluted protein samples on the reaction plate. After ten-minute incubation at room temperature, the absorbance at 595 nm was measured. Samples were compared to a standard curve of bovine serum albumin. Bradford protein assay only detects proteins larger than 3,000 Da.

3.3.6. Activity Assay

The specific substrate for Naglu, 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-α-D-glucosaminide, had very low solubility in water and required DMSO to be dissolved in solution. A 10 mM stock of substrate was prepared by dissolving 5 mg of 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-α-D-glucosaminide in 250 μL of 100% DMSO first. Naglu activity assay reaction buffer was then added to bring the volume up to 1318 μL. This 10 mM Substrate stock was further diluted 10-fold with reaction buffer to make the 1 mM substrate solution. Un-used 10 mM substrate stock was stored in −80° C. for up to one month. Samples and controls were pre-diluted in reaction buffer. 10 μL of each pre-diluted sample/control was applied in duplicate wells on a black clear bottom 96 well plate. 10 μL of reaction buffer was added to two wells of the plate and served as reaction buffer control. 75 μL of 1 mM substrate was added to each well that contained 10 μL of sample/control. The plate was sealed with plate sealer and wrapped with aluminum foil. The plate was placed in 37° C. Jitterbug and incubated with shaking setting at #1 for 1 hour. Prior to the completion of incubation, standards were prepared by diluting the stock (1000 μM) of 4-methlyumbelliferyl sodium salt down to 25 μM, 12.5 μM, 6.25 μM, 3.12 μM. 1.56 μM, 0.78 μM, 0 μM with water. At the completion of incubation, 85 μL of each of the seven standards was loaded on the plate in duplicate. 200 μL of Stop Buffer was added to all of the wells containing sample, control or standard. The plate was measured for fluorescence at 360/460 (Excitation/Emission) using a Molecular Devices SpectraMax Plus M2 plate reader. Using the Softmax program, enzymatic activity of the Naglu-kif was extrapolated from the fluorescence data of the standards and the samples.

3.4. NAGLU Purification and Analysis

Naglu kif protein was purified in batch from 3.2 L of media produced in the presence of kifunensine. 3.2 L of 12× concentrated conditioned media were thawed overnight at 4° C. followed by brief incubation at 25° C. Thawed media was filtered through 0.22 μm PES bottle top filter. Sodium Chloride Stock Buffer (5 M) was added with gentle stirring to adjust Sodium Chloride concentration. The adjusted conditioned media was loaded on 300 mL XK50 Butyl Sepharose 4 FF Column at 46-61 cm/h. Wash and elution steps were done at 76 cm/h. 34 fractions were collected along the elution peak. FIG. 5 shows the Chromatogram of the Butyl FF column. SDS-PAGE elution profile and Western Blot for the Butyl column run is shown in FIG. 6. Fractions B6-E3 were combined as Butyl pool. It was concentrated to 300 mL and buffer exchanged in Q Equilibration Buffer once, using 1000 mL of the Equilibration Buffer. The final 500 mL of buffer exchanged Butyl pool were split into 2 runs over 75 mL Q Sepharose HP Column. The elution gradient for the Q column was set over 10 CV from 0-100% B. ½ CV elution fractions were collected during the elution peak. Once the gradient reached 25% it was switched to 100% of Q Elution Buffer and column was stripped with 2 CV of Q Elution Buffer. The column was re-equilibrated and repeated with the second half of the Q-load. FIG. 7 shows the chromatogram of the Q HP column. SDS-PAGE elution profile for the Q column run is shown in FIG. 8. The Q pool was concentrated, buffer exchanged into Storage Buffer. Some protein precipitation was observed during concentration and dialysis step. Protein solution was filter sterilized using 0.22 μm PES bottle top filter. The final purified protein, Naglu-kif, was aliquoted for storage at −80° C. 94 mg of purified Naglu-kif was obtained in this run. Total protein recovery for each purification step is summarized in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Summary for Purification of Naglu-kif Volume Bradford Activity Recovery (mL) (mg/mL) nmol/h % Butyl Load 4000 n/a 9.6 10⁷ 100 Butyl Pool 1000 0.28 6.3 10⁷ 65 Q-Load 475 0.51 5.5 10⁷ 57 Q-Pool 150 1.1 5.1 10⁷ 53 Naglu kif R3 85.4 1.1 2.8 10⁷ 29

3.5. Summary

For Naglu kif purification, a two-step process was used. This process included a Butyl Sepharose step and a Q-Sepharose step. After Butyl column protein pool was concentrated and buffer exchanged to the Q-Equilibration Buffer using an ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF) system. Since protein was eluted from the Butyl column late in a gradient, one cycle of buffer exchange was sufficient to lower conductivity. During concentration of the Q column pool, protein precipitation was observed when the protein concentration reached 2 mg/mL. The precipitate was removed by centrifugation for 10 min at 3,000 g. To prevent further precipitation, protein was diluted with filtrate to 1 mg/mL. During dialysis into Storage buffer, additional minor precipitation was observed. The final concentration of Naglu-kif was 1.1 mg/mL by a Bradford Protein Assay and the total amount obtained was 94 mg of final product (FIG. 9).

Example 4 Naglu Mutations Mapped in the 2.9 Å Crystal Structure of NAGLU-kif 4.1. Overall Structure

The final model of NAGLU obtained from the 2.9 Å crystal structure contained all the amino acids, from amino acid 24-743, including six glycans at positions N261, N272, N435, N503, N526 and N532. NAGLU has three domains (I, II, III). Domain I is a small α/β domain (amino acids 24-126). Domain II is a (α/β)₈ barrel domain (amino acids 127-467) containing the catalytic residues E316 and E446. In certain embodiments, NAGLU exhibits a crystallographic symmetry of a trimeric arrangement formed by the interaction of domain II, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Domain III is an all α-helical bundle domain (amino acids 468-743). The three domain structure is illustrated in FIG. 3; amino acid residues are numbered according to SEQ ID NO: 3, amino acids 24-743).

4.2. Mapping of Pathogenic Mutations

Many naglu mutations have been identified that affect NAGLU enzymatic activity. For example, Yogalingam et al. (2001) Hum. Mutat. 18:264-281 have identified 24 unique mutations (excluding deletion, insertion and premature stop codons/termination mutations), summarized in Table 7:

TABLE 7 Severe mutations in naglu identified by Yogalingam et al. 1^(st) Allele 2^(nd) Allele 1 L35F G292R 2 F48C F48C 3 Y140C R626X Y140C R674C 4 W156C Y140C 5 R234C R234C 6 W268R W268R 7 G292R R565W 8 V334F V334F 9 F410S N.I* 10 H414R 503-512 del 11 Y455C P521L 12 V501G V501G 13 R520W N.I 14 P521L Y455C P521L P521L 15 R565W G292R R565P 1035del2 16 L591P R297X 17 L617F N.I 18 W649C W649C 19 G650E R674C 20 R674C Y140C R674C R674H R674H R674 21 R676P R297X 22 E705K R297X N.I—not identified

FIG. 10 depicts stick-and-ribbon representations of naglu mutations modeled into the structure obtained at 2.9 Å. The green sticks represent glycans and the red sticks represent severe naglu mutations. In total 24 unique mutations (excluding deletion, insertion and premature stop codons/termination mutations) were mapped. Clusters of pathogenic mutations can be identified in the crystal structure (FIG. 16). There are at least five severe mutations near the active site, within 5 Å from the modeled product (N-Acetylglucosamine) in the active site, that include Y140C, W268R, F410S, W649C and G650E (FIG. 11). Another cluster of six severe mutations is seen near a loop (amino acid 502-533) containing three glycosylation sites (N503, N526 and N532). This cluster includes R520W, P521L, R674C or R674H, R676P, E705K and Q706X (FIG. 12). A third cluster of mutation can be identified at the interface of domains I, II and III, which includes H100R, E153K, W156C, E452K, Y455C and R482W (FIGS. 15 and 17). FIG. 16 summarizes the identified clusters of mutations, where green sticks represent glycans; red sticks represent severe naglu mutations; blue sticks represent N.R mutations (not reported—insufficient data, the expression of these mutations and additional cases may be required to assign clinical phenotype to these alleles (Yogalingam et al. Hum. Mutat. 2001), summarized in Table 8); and yellow sticks represent attenuated naglu mutations (summarized in Table 9).

TABLE 8 N.R Mutations 1^(st) allele 2nd allele 1 G79C G79C 2 G82D G82D 3 Y92H Y140C 4 H100R H100R 5 P115S P115S 6 E153K E153K 7 C277F M1L 8 L280 N.I 9 G292R G292R 10 P358L P358L 11 E452K E452K 12 Y455C R674H 13 Y455C R482W 14 L561R L561R 15 R565Q term at 132 16 R565Q inframe duplication of aa 72-75 17 R643H R297X 18 A664V R203X 19 R674H R674H 20 R674H Y455C 21 L682R Y140C

TABLE 9 Attenuated mutations 1st allele 2nd allele 1 F48L R297X 2 G69S R297X 3 8aa insert at S612G 233 4 H227P P521L 5 H248R N.I 6 S534Y N.I 7 L560P N.I 8 S612G 233-234 ins24 9 R643C R643C

In total about 44 unique mutations (excluding cases in which both alleles have insertion, deletion or premature stop/termination codon mutations) were mapped with nine incidences of an amino acid mutated to cystein and with eight occurrences of an arginine mutated either another amino acid or to a stop codon.

Example 5 Crystal Structure of rhNAGLU

Recombinant human NAGLU (rhNAGLU) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was concentrated to 16.5 mg/ml. Concentrated rhNAGLU was stored at 4° C., and crystalline material was observed at the bottom of the vial after about two months (FIG. 18). A suitable single crystal from this crystalline material was transferred into PBS containing 20% glycerol and 20% xylitol as cryoprotectants. The crystal was flash frozen in a liquid nitrogen stream, and diffraction data was collected using a rotating anode X-ray diffractometer. The rhNAGLU crystal diffracted to about 3.2 Å resolution and belongs to the same space group and unit cell dimensions as NAGLU-Kif. A data set of 90 frames was collected with 30 minute exposure per frame and an oscillation of one degree. Diffraction data was processed in P63 space group to a resolution of 3.5 Å and a completeness of 97%. Structure was solved using CCP4 suite using NAGLU-kif structure as molecular replacement model. The structure of rhNAGLU was refined to a final R and R_(free) of 20.2% and 25.6%, respectively, by iterative model building in Coot and refinement in Refmac5. The structures of rhNAGLU and NAGLU-kif are similar and could be superimposed, with a root mean square (RMS) deviation of 0.297 Å for the backbone atoms (FIG. 19).

EQUIVALENTS AND SCOPE

Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. The scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the above Description, but rather is as set forth in the appended claims.

In the claims articles such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may mean one or more than one unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. Claims or descriptions that include “or” between one or more members of a group are considered satisfied if one, more than one, or all of the group members are present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. The invention includes embodiments in which exactly one member of the group is present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process. The invention includes embodiments in which more than one, or all of the group members are present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention encompasses all variations, combinations, and permutations in which one or more limitations, elements, clauses, descriptive terms, etc., from one or more of the listed claims is introduced into another claim. For example, any claim that is dependent on another claim can be modified to include one or more limitations found in any other claim that is dependent on the same base claim. Furthermore, where the claims recite a composition, it is to be understood that methods of using the composition for any of the purposes disclosed herein are included, and methods of making the composition according to any of the methods of making disclosed herein or other methods known in the art are included, unless otherwise indicated or unless it would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that a contradiction or inconsistency would arise.

Where elements are presented as lists, e.g., in Markush group format, it is to be understood that each subgroup of the elements is also disclosed, and any element(s) can be removed from the group. It should it be understood that, in general, where the invention, or aspects of the invention, is/are referred to as comprising particular elements, features, etc., certain embodiments of the invention or aspects of the invention consist, or consist essentially of, such elements, features, etc. For purposes of simplicity those embodiments have not been specifically set forth in haec verba herein. It is also noted that the term “comprising” is intended to be open and permits the inclusion of additional elements or steps.

Where ranges are given, endpoints are included. Furthermore, it is to be understood that unless otherwise indicated or otherwise evident from the context and understanding of one of ordinary skill in the art, values that are expressed as ranges can assume any specific value or subrange within the stated ranges in different embodiments of the invention, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment of the present invention that falls within the prior art may be explicitly excluded from any one or more of the claims. Since such embodiments are deemed to be known to one of ordinary skill in the art, they may be excluded even if the exclusion is not set forth explicitly herein. Any particular embodiment of the compositions of the invention can be excluded from any one or more claims, for any reason, whether or not related to the existence of prior art.

APPENDIX

Table 3 NAGLU (SEQ ID NO: 3) Crystal Structure Data at 2.9 Å (NAGLU-KIF, Table 3.1), 2.4 Å (NAGLU-KIF, Table 3.2), and 3.49 Å (RH-NAGLU, Table 3.3):

LENGTHY TABLES The patent contains a lengthy table section. A copy of the table is available in electronic form from the USPTO web site (http://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US08775146B2). An electronic copy of the table will also be available from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.19(b)(3). Lengthy Table

The patent application contains a lengthy table section. A copy of Table 3 was submitted in electronic form to the U.S. Patent and Trade mark Office (USPTO) concurrently with the filing of this application. A copy of Table 3 is available in electronic form from the USPTO website. An electronic copy of the Table 3 is also available from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37 C.F.R. §1.19(b)(3).

Table 3 was submitted as an ASCII text file named “Table3.txt” (2401 kilobytes) to the USPTO on a compact disc (CD) created on Jul. 22, 2011, and labeled “TABLE 3” concurrently with the filing of this application. The entire contents of the materials on the CD submitted to the USPTO, including the entire contents of the Table3.txt text file, are incorporated herein by reference.

TABLE 4 NAGLU MUTATIONS Mutation Sequence alteration c54g GCC => GCG F48L TTC => TTA G69S GGC => AGC H227P CAC => CCC H248R CAT => CGT G292R GGG => AGG R297X/A(8%)/D(23%) CGA => TGA V334F GTC => TTC W404X TGG => TAG F410S TTT => TCT H414R CAT => CGT W494X TGG => TGA P521L/A(6%) CCG => CTG L560P CTG => CCG R565P CGG => CCG R565W/A(6%) CGG => TGG L617F TTG => TTC R626X/A (6%) CGA => TGA R643C/D (19%) CGC => TGC G650E GGG => GAG R674C CGC => TGC R676P CGG => CCG G737R/A(4%)/D(4%) GGC => CGC delG59 GGGGGCG => GGGG_CG del10bp503b del[GGAGCGGCCA] delTG1035 GCTGTGTG => GCTG_TG delA1317 GGTAG => GG_TG delA2100 CAAAAAT => CAAAA_T del2bp2171 ACTGTGGA => ACTG_GA ins25bp48 [GGGGC . . . CGACG]duplicated ins7bp48 [GGGGCCG] duplicated ins5bp209 [GCGGC] duplicated insAA950 GATGC => GATAAGCA (Weber et al. (1999) Eur. J. Hum. Gen. 7: 34-44, reference incorporated herein in its entirety, particularly Tables 3 and 4). Mutations of NAGLU that were identified in MPS III-B patients in Turkey: L682R E153K g.17703 A > G T437I (Serap et al. (2002) Human Mutation 19: 184-85). Mutations of NAGLU that were identified in nine fibroblast cell lines derived from Sanfilippo syndrome type B patients: 503del110 901delAA 652insC R203X R297X R626X Q706X Y92H P115S Y140C E153K P358L S612G A664V R674H L682R (Schmidtchen et al. (1998) Am J Hum Genet 62: 64-69) Mutations of NAGLU that were identified in 18 Sanfilippo B families: R38W V77G 407-410del4 703delT A246P Y335C 1487delT E639X (Beesley et al. (2005) J. Inher. Metab. Dis. 28: 759-767). Mutations of NAGLU that were identified in 14 MPS III-B patients: 219-237del19 334-358del25 1335delC 2099delA 1447-1448insT 1932-1933insGCTAC R297X R626X F48C Y140C R234C W268R P521L R565W L591P E705K (Beesley et al. (1998) J. Med. Genet. 35: 910-914). Mutations of NAGLU that were identified in seven Japanese patients from six unrelated families with mucopolysaccharidosis III-B (Sanfilippo type B): V241M F314L R482W R565W R565P delTG2171-2172 (exon 6) (Tanaka et al. (2002) J Hum Genet 47: 484-487) Mutations of NAGLU that were identified in 20 Italian Sanfilippo type B patients: L35F 204delC 221insGCGCG G82D, W156C 507delC, IVS3 + 1G-->A E336X V501G R520W S534Y W649C 1953insGCCA 2185delAGA (Tessitore et al. (2000) Hum Genet 107: 568-576) Mutations of NAGLU that were identified in skin fibroblasts of 22 MPS III-B patients (European Human Cell Bank, Rotterdam and University Children's Hospital, Mainz): M1L ATG => TTG 274ins4 dupl 271-274 338ins24 dupl 315-338 G79C GGC => TGC R100H CAC => CGC Y140C TAC => TGC F142del TTC =>— pol: IVS2 + 50G => C G => C R203X CGA => TGA P243L CCT => CTT C277F TGC => TTC L280P CTT => CCT G292R GGG => AGG R297X CGA => TGA 1006delAG GAG => G— W404X TGG => TAG E452L GAA => AAA R482W CGG => TGG L561R CTG => CGG R565Q CGG => CAG R674H CGC => CAC E705L GAG => AAG pol: G737R GGC => CGC (Bunge et al. (1999) J Med Genet 36: 28-31, reference incorporated herein in its entirety, particularly Table 2).

1^(st) Allele 2^(nd) Allele 1 L35F G292R 2 F48C F48C 3 Y140C R626X Y140C R674C 4 W156C Y140C 5 R234C R234C 6 W268R W268R 7 G292R R565W 8 V334F V334F 9 F410S N.I 10 H414R 503-512 11 Y455C P521L 12 V501G V501G 13 R520W N.I* 14 P521L Y455C P521L P521L 15 R565W G292R R565P 1035del2 16 L591P R297X 17 L617F N.I 18 W649C W649C 19 G650E R674C 20 R674C Y140C R674C R674H R674H R674 21 R676P R297X 22 E705K R297X Yogalingam et al. (2001) Hum Mutat 18:264-281: *N.I-not identified

TABLE 5 NAGLU ACTIVE SITE COORDINATES Table 5.1 at 2.9Å Column 4 - amino acid name Column 5 - chain id Column 6 - amino acid number Columns 7, 8 and 9 are x, y, z coordinates Column 10 - occupancy Column 11 - B factor N134 ATOM 1632 N ASN A 134 91.279 −31.010 2.042 1.00 29.38 N ATOM 1633 CA ASN A 134 90.106 −31.221 1.213 1.00 30.21 C ATOM 1635 CB ASN A 134 89.635 −29.874 0.605 1.00 31.44 C ATOM 1638 CG ASN A 134 88.254 −29.944 −0.102 1.00 32.75 C ATOM 1639 OD1 ASN A 134 88.043 −30.763 −1.026 1.00 35.54 O ATOM 1640 ND2 ASN A 134 87.351 −29.024 0.270 1.00 30.49 N ATOM 1643 C ASN A 134 90.594 −32.172 0.149 1.00 29.54 C ATOM 1644 O ASN A 134 91.778 −32.115 −0.245 1.00 30.12 O C136 ATOM 1662 N CYS A 136 90.059 −31.921 −2.758 1.00 29.02 N ATOM 1663 CA CYS A 136 90.569 −31.011 −3.804 1.00 29.75 C ATOM 1665 CB CYS A 136 89.703 −29.782 −3.942 1.00 30.72 C ATOM 1668 SG CYS A 136 88.080 −30.254 −4.212 1.00 36.73 S ATOM 1670 C CYS A 136 91.987 −30.540 −3.599 1.00 28.10 C ATOM 1671 O CYS A 136 92.670 −30.287 −4.572 1.00 28.48 O Y140 ATOM 1715 N TYR A 140 94.837 −29.168 −6.221 1.00 25.53 N ATOM 1716 CA TYR A 140 95.069 −27.742 −6.428 1.00 25.43 C ATOM 1718 CB TYR A 140 93.936 −26.875 −5.853 1.00 25.19 C ATOM 1721 CG TYR A 140 92.610 −26.849 −6.650 1.00 25.27 C ATOM 1722 CD1 TYR A 140 92.594 −26.665 −8.005 1.00 24.48 C ATOM 1724 CE1 TYR A 140 91.374 −26.586 −8.706 1.00 25.13 C ATOM 1726 CZ TYR A 140 90.197 −26.685 −8.066 1.00 25.21 C ATOM 1727 OH TYR A 140 89.092 −26.631 −8.819 1.00 26.19 O ATOM 1729 CE2 TYR A 140 90.158 −26.872 −6.734 1.00 24.77 C ATOM 1731 CD2 TYR A 140 91.349 −26.945 −6.016 1.00 25.20 C ATOM 1733 C TYR A 140 96.394 −27.338 −5.844 1.00 24.50 C ATOM 1734 O TYR A 140 96.970 −26.412 −6.314 1.00 25.79 O W201 ATOM 2709 N TRP A 201 88.777 −34.971 −9.052 1.00 29.80 N ATOM 2710 CA TRP A 201 87.444 −35.097 −9.624 1.00 30.40 C ATOM 2712 CB TRP A 201 87.157 −33.862 −10.533 1.00 30.83 C ATOM 2715 CG TRP A 201 87.286 −32.664 −9.658 1.00 29.28 C ATOM 2716 CD1 TRP A 201 86.351 −32.203 −8.794 1.00 27.58 C ATOM 2718 NE1 TRP A 201 86.848 −31.178 −8.049 1.00 26.88 N ATOM 2720 CE2 TRP A 201 88.162 −30.981 −8.386 1.00 27.22 C ATOM 2721 CD2 TRP A 201 88.476 −31.911 −9.395 1.00 28.34 C ATOM 2722 CE3 TRP A 201 89.768 −31.920 −9.922 1.00 27.20 C ATOM 2724 CZ3 TRP A 201 90.685 −30.983 −9.444 1.00 26.68 C ATOM 2726 CH2 TRP A 201 90.339 −30.078 −8.447 1.00 25.18 C ATOM 2728 CZ2 TRP A 201 89.085 −30.051 −7.913 1.00 25.64 C ATOM 2730 C TRP A 201 87.261 −36.473 −10.300 1.00 30.64 C ATOM 2731 O TRP A 201 86.143 −37.021 −10.375 1.00 30.58 O M204 ATOM 2764 N MET A 204 86.231 −38.750 −7.479 1.00 28.53 N ATOM 2765 CA MET A 204 84.893 −38.676 −6.962 1.00 29.12 C ATOM 2767 CB MET A 204 84.574 −37.271 −6.459 1.00 29.50 C ATOM 2770 CG MET A 204 85.260 −36.947 −5.162 1.00 28.11 C ATOM 2773 SD MET A 204 84.870 −35.338 −4.496 1.00 27.88 S ATOM 2774 CE MET A 204 85.566 −34.241 −5.744 1.00 29.11 C ATOM 2778 C MET A 204 83.894 −39.117 −8.005 1.00 30.12 C ATOM 2779 O MET A 204 82.684 −39.147 −7.728 1.00 30.66 O W268 ATOM 3780 N TRP A 268 78.869 −33.544 −15.364 1.00 38.62 N ATOM 3781 CA TRP A 268 79.345 −32.657 −14.299 1.00 38.58 C ATOM 3783 CB TRP A 268 80.105 −33.474 −13.253 1.00 37.55 C ATOM 3786 CG TRP A 268 80.839 −32.688 −12.165 1.00 37.23 C ATOM 3787 CD1 TRP A 268 80.401 −32.431 −10.903 1.00 36.90 C ATOM 3789 NE1 TRP A 268 81.360 −31.737 −10.205 1.00 37.00 N ATOM 3791 CE2 TRP A 268 82.436 −31.524 −11.019 1.00 34.25 C ATOM 3792 CD2 TRP A 268 82.164 −32.131 −12.247 1.00 36.77 C ATOM 3793 CE3 TRP A 268 83.144 −32.087 −13.261 1.00 37.14 C ATOM 3795 CZ3 TRP A 268 84.333 −31.449 −13.012 1.00 33.93 C ATOM 3797 CH2 TRP A 268 84.554 −30.855 −11.772 1.00 35.09 C ATOM 3799 CZ2 TRP A 268 83.610 −30.882 −10.767 1.00 33.39 C ATOM 3801 C TRP A 268 80.299 −31.599 −14.885 1.00 39.35 C ATOM 3802 O TRP A 268 81.011 −31.856 −15.869 1.00 39.25 O N315 ATOM 4514 N ASN A 315 79.037 −36.767 −4.791 1.00 31.39 N ATOM 4515 CA ASN A 315 79.546 −35.427 −4.572 1.00 31.75 C ATOM 4517 CB ASN A 315 81.007 −35.460 −4.161 1.00 31.57 C ATOM 4520 CG ASN A 315 81.612 −34.074 −3.971 1.00 33.62 C ATOM 4521 OD1 ASN A 315 81.772 −33.618 −2.822 1.00 36.98 O ATOM 4522 ND2 ASN A 315 82.007 −33.415 −5.090 1.00 35.35 N ATOM 4525 C ASN A 315 79.366 −34.640 −5.858 1.00 31.77 C ATOM 4526 O ASN A 315 79.868 −34.999 −6.929 1.00 30.07 O E316 ATOM 4528 N GLU A 316 78.599 −33.574 −5.709 1.00 32.86 N ATOM 4529 CA GLU A 316 78.208 −32.737 −6.803 1.00 34.10 C ATOM 4531 CB GLU A 316 79.422 −31.854 −7.287 1.00 34.09 C ATOM 4534 CG GLU A 316 79.808 −30.713 −6.278 1.00 34.70 C ATOM 4537 CD GLU A 316 80.808 −29.605 −6.784 1.00 37.65 C ATOM 4538 OE1 GLU A 316 81.353 −29.633 −7.933 1.00 37.01 O ATOM 4539 OE2 GLU A 316 81.052 −28.674 −5.961 1.00 39.36 O ATOM 4540 C GLU A 316 77.498 −33.536 −7.938 1.00 33.61 C ATOM 4541 O GLU A 316 77.525 −33.099 −9.072 1.00 33.94 O W352 ATOM 5047 N TRP A 352 79.387 −32.535 2.052 1.00 33.36 N ATOM 5048 CA TRP A 352 79.195 −31.378 1.193 1.00 34.25 C ATOM 5050 CB TRP A 352 80.393 −31.224 0.275 1.00 33.42 C ATOM 5053 CG TRP A 352 80.256 −30.285 −0.812 1.00 33.82 C ATOM 5054 CD1 TRP A 352 79.991 −30.583 −2.108 1.00 36.52 C ATOM 5056 NE1 TRP A 352 79.970 −29.422 −2.870 1.00 38.03 N ATOM 5058 CE2 TRP A 352 80.266 −28.366 −2.054 1.00 34.34 C ATOM 5059 CD2 TRP A 352 80.448 −28.875 −0.752 1.00 34.07 C ATOM 5060 CE3 TRP A 352 80.764 −27.996 0.266 1.00 33.41 C ATOM 5062 CZ3 TRP A 352 80.882 −26.669 −0.046 1.00 34.77 C ATOM 5064 CH2 TRP A 352 80.670 −26.199 −1.345 1.00 32.13 C ATOM 5066 CZ2 TRP A 352 80.369 −27.036 −2.350 1.00 32.60 C ATOM 5068 C TRP A 352 77.944 −31.545 0.377 1.00 35.42 C ATOM 5069 O TRP A 352 77.162 −30.573 0.220 1.00 34.97 O L383 ATOM 5560 N LEU A 383 81.514 −30.059 6.041 1.00 33.60 N ATOM 5561 CA LEU A 383 82.698 −29.558 5.387 1.00 33.14 C ATOM 5563 CB LEU A 383 82.849 −30.198 3.997 1.00 32.22 C ATOM 5566 CG LEU A 383 84.271 −30.210 3.432 1.00 30.41 C ATOM 5568 CD1 LEU A 383 84.998 −31.420 3.928 1.00 26.86 C ATOM 5572 CD2 LEU A 383 84.244 −30.180 1.913 1.00 30.13 C ATOM 5576 C LEU A 383 82.739 −28.003 5.319 1.00 33.89 C ATOM 5577 O LEU A 383 83.816 −27.431 5.189 1.00 34.82 O L407 ATOM 5942 N LEU A 407 85.930 −24.584 5.772 1.00 32.59 N ATOM 5943 CA LEU A 407 86.320 −24.878 4.418 1.00 31.60 C ATOM 5945 CB LEU A 407 85.095 −25.125 3.513 1.00 31.09 C ATOM 5948 CG LEU A 407 85.469 −25.860 2.231 1.00 29.59 C ATOM 5950 CD1 LEU A 407 84.265 −26.436 1.548 1.00 29.41 C ATOM 5954 CD2 LEU A 407 86.242 −24.914 1.314 1.00 28.81 C ATOM 5958 C LEU A 407 87.122 −23.696 3.938 1.00 32.10 C ATOM 5959 O LEU' A 407 88.238 −23.855 3.455 1.00 31.94 O F410 ATOM 5993 N PHE A 410 88.113 −21.546 −1.766 1.00 35.50 N ATOM 5994 CA PHE A 410 87.816 −22.292 −2.970 1.00 35.55 C ATOM 5996 CB PHE A 410 86.403 −21.913 −3.416 1.00 36.28 C ATOM 5999 CG PHE A 410 85.338 −22.278 −2.409 1.00 37.40 C ATOM 6000 CD1 PHE A 410 84.806 −23.565 −2.374 1.00 36.25 C ATOM 6002 CE1 PHE A 410 83.842 −23.900 −1.462 1.00 37.66 C ATOM 6004 CZ PHE A 410 83.368 −22.967 −0.559 1.00 39.84 C ATOM 6006 CE2 PHE A 410 83.862 −21.673 −0.583 1.00 40.78 C ATOM 6008 CD2 PHE A 410 84.861 −21.334 −1.503 1.00 40.34 C ATOM 6010 C PHE A 410 88.853 −22.079 −4.104 1.00 35.49 C ATOM 6011 O PHE A 410 89.310 −20.970 −4.342 1.00 36.22 O E446 ATOM 6476 N GLU A 446 90.216 −25.788 −0.216 1.00 29.05 N ATOM 6477 CA GLU A 446 90.395 −26.416 −1.510 1.00 28.90 C ATOM 6479 CB GLU A 446 89.420 −25.883 −2.545 1.00 29.51 C ATOM 6482 CG GLU A 446 87.955 −26.299 −2.308 1.00 30.21 C ATOM 6485 CD GLU A 446 87.056 −26.121 −3.553 1.00 31.81 C ATOM 6486 OE1 GLU A 446 87.399 −25.275 −4.446 1.00 28.17 O ATOM 6487 OE2 GLU A 446 86.007 −26.835 −3.617 1.00 34.90 O ATOM 6488 C GLU A 446 91.800 −26.182 −1.956 1.00 29.17 C ATOM 6489 O GLU A 446 92.387 −27.080 −2.552 1.00 29.77 O H512 ATOM 7475 N HIS A 512 85.296 −17.499 −2.866 1.00 47.49 N ATOM 7476 CA HIS A 512 85.708 −17.662 −4.278 1.00 46.66 C ATOM 7478 CB HIS A 512 84.535 −18.022 −5.239 1.00 47.53 C ATOM 7481 CG HIS A 512 83.753 −19.257 −4.887 1.00 51.47 C ATOM 7482 ND1 HIS A 512 83.875 −20.448 −5.581 1.00 57.00 N ATOM 7484 CE1 HIS A 512 83.022 −21.345 −5.091 1.00 58.23 C ATOM 7486 NE2 HIS A 512 82.338 −20.777 −4.111 1.00 58.45 N ATOM 7488 CD2 HIS A 512 82.764 −19.465 −3.979 1.00 55.68 C ATOM 7490 C HIS A 512 86.144 −16.243 −4.591 1.00 45.31 C ATOM 7491 O HIS A 512 85.397 −15.347 −4.261 1.00 46.27 O W649 ATOM 9656 N TRP A 649 90.312 −24.706 −17.118 1.00 32.44 N ATOM 9657 CA TRP A 649 89.928 −25.893 −16.310 1.00 32.55 C ATOM 9659 CB TRP A 649 88.655 −25.653 −15.435 1.00 32.52 C ATOM 9662 CG TRP A 649 88.727 −26.327 −14.135 1.00 31.75 C ATOM 9663 CD1 TRP A 649 89.100 −25.775 −12.975 1.00 32.52 C ATOM 9665 NE1 TRP A 649 89.090 −26.714 −11.972 1.00 31.61 N ATOM 9667 CE2 TRP A 649 88.699 −27.903 −12.496 1.00 28.87 C ATOM 9668 CD2 TRP A 649 88.463 −27.703 −13.855 1.00 30.57 C ATOM 9669 CE3 TRP A 649 88.078 −28.778 −14.631 1.00 31.46 C ATOM 9671 CZ3 TRP A 649 87.916 −29.981 −14.037 1.00 32.96 C ATOM 9673 CH2 TRP A 649 88.136 −30.135 −12.673 1.00 33.51 C ATOM 9675 CZ2 TRP A 649 88.533 −29.091 −11.894 1.00 30.78 C ATOM 9677 C TRP A 649 89.736 −27.050 −17.292 1.00 33.10 C ATOM 9678 O TRP A 649 90.521 −27.957 −17.339 1.00 32.58 O I655 ATOM 9737 N ILE A 655 85.048 −24.752 −16.565 1.00 32.71 N ATOM 9738 CA ILE A 655 84.935 −24.168 −15.228 1.00 31.79 C ATOM 9740 CB ILE A 655 85.235 −25.190 −14.041 1.00 30.84 C ATOM 9742 CG1 ILE A 655 84.742 −26.620 −14.396 1.00 31.73 C ATOM 9745 CD1 ILE A 655 84.880 −27.705 −13.299 1.00 28.31 C ATOM 9749 CG2 ILE A 655 84.574 −24.754 −12.741 1.00 29.08 C ATOM 9753 C ILE A 655 85.855 −22.952 −15.246 1.00 31.82 C ATOM 9754 O ILE A 655 86.706 −22.802 −14.428 1.00 30.69 O Y658 ATOM 9787 N TYR A 658 87.898 −20.826 −12.299 1.00 31.75 N ATOM 9788 CA TYR A 658 87.503 −21.236 −10.962 1.00 31.49 C ATOM 9790 CB TYR A 658 86.895 −22.574 −10.968 1.00 31.18 C ATOM 9793 CG TYR A 658 86.469 −23.042 −9.615 1.00 33.38 C ATOM 9794 CD1 TYR A 658 85.225 −22.691 −9.095 1.00 36.48 C ATOM 9796 CE1 TYR A 658 84.790 −23.168 −7.847 1.00 37.73 C ATOM 9798 CZ TYR A 658 85.615 −24.007 −7.106 1.00 38.10 C ATOM 9799 OH TYR A 658 85.209 −24.478 −5.870 1.00 41.45 O ATOM 9801 CE2 TYR A 658 86.859 −24.369 −7.601 1.00 37.18 C ATOM 9803 CD2 TYR A 658 87.277 −23.895 −8.865 1.00 36.10 C ATOM 9805 C TYR A 658 88.645 −21.317 −10.024 1.00 31.11 C ATOM 9806 O TYR A 658 88.502 −20.986 −8.845 1.00 32.26 O Table 5.2 at 2.4Å Column 4 - amino acid name Column 5 - chain id Column 6 - amino acid number Columns 7, 8 and 9 are x, y, z coordinates Column 10 - occupancy Column 11 - B factor N134 ATOM 823 N ASN A 134 −72.112 63.068 −2.136 1.00 36.65 N ATOM 824 CA ASN A 134 −71.795 62.001 −1.228 1.00 36.21 C ATOM 825 CB ASN A 134 −70.478 62.344 −0.509 1.00 36.95 C ATOM 826 CG ASN A 134 −69.752 61.136 0.116 1.00 38.60 C ATOM 827 OD1 ASN A 134 −70.156 60.591 1.184 1.00 40.66 O ATOM 828 ND2 ASN A 134 −68.552 60.848 −0.438 1.00 35.78 N ATOM 829 C ASN A 134 −72.937 61.972 −0.229 1.00 35.13 C ATOM 830 O ASN A 134 −73.603 62.970 0.011 1.00 33.15 O C136 ATOM 838 N CYS A 136 −72.305 61.704 2.840 1.00 35.25 N ATOM 839 CA CYS A 136 −71.731 62.591 3.869 1.00 36.30 C ATOM 840 CB CYS A 136 −70.224 62.431 3.928 1.00 36.22 C ATOM 841 SG CYS A 136 −69.778 60.741 4.361 1.00 42.49 S ATOM 842 C CYS A 136 −72.015 64.052 3.634 1.00 35.37 C ATOM 843 O CYS A 136 −72.054 64.810 4.587 1.00 35.63 O Y140 ATOM 866 N TYR A 140 −72.284 67.187 6.241 1.00 34.21 N ATOM 867 CA TYR A 140 −71.150 68.095 6.415 1.00 34.06 C ATOM 868 CB TYR A 140 −69.837 67.509 5.875 1.00 34.29 C ATOM 869 CG TYR A 140 −69.169 66.439 6.714 1.00 33.29 C ATOM 870 CD1 TYR A 140 −69.003 66.586 8.092 1.00 33.05 C ATOM 871 CE1 TYR A 140 −68.378 65.603 8.851 1.00 32.87 C ATOM 872 CZ TYR A 140 −67.889 64.496 8.236 1.00 33.44 C ATOM 873 OH TYR A 140 −67.275 63.539 8.978 1.00 34.74 O ATOM 874 CE2 TYR A 140 −68.030 64.326 6.876 1.00 33.29 C ATOM 875 CD2 TYR A 140 −68.652 65.298 6.123 1.00 34.30 C ATOM 876 C TYR A 140 −71.389 69.456 5.775 1.00 34.40 C ATOM 877 O TYR A 140 −70.835 70.430 6.250 1.00 34.46 O W201 ATOM 1381 N TRP A 201 −74.427 59.112 9.130 1.00 35.66 N ATOM 1382 CA TRP A 201 −73.866 57.892 9.693 1.00 36.21 C ATOM 1383 CB TRP A 201 −72.602 58.237 10.523 1.00 36.25 C ATOM 1384 CG TRP A 201 −71.656 58.943 9.627 1.00 33.25 C ATOM 1385 CD1 TRP A 201 −70.817 58.381 8.723 1.00 34.61 C ATOM 1386 NE1 TRP A 201 −70.165 59.357 8.002 1.00 32.88 N ATOM 1387 CE2 TRP A 201 −70.604 60.576 9.437 1.00 31.20 C ATOM 1388 CD2 TRP A 201 −71.572 60.350 9.422 1.00 34.86 C ATOM 1389 CE3 TRP A 201 −72.222 61.449 9.988 1.00 34.70 C ATOM 1390 CZ3 TRP A 201 −71.890 62.700 9.557 1.00 33.13 C ATOM 1391 CH2 TRP A 201 −70.938 62.886 9.575 1.00 35.37 C ATOM 1392 CZ2 TRP A 201 −70.268 61.834 8.018 1.00 32.43 C ATOM 1393 C TRP A 201 −74.928 57.062 10.404 1.00 36.76 C ATOM 1394 O TRP A 201 −74.837 55.845 10.458 1.00 36.53 O M204 ATOM 1410 N MET A 204 −76.506 55.040 7.455 1.00 37.88 N ATOM 1411 CA MET A 204 −75.713 53.891 7.000 1.00 37.85 C ATOM 1412 CB MET A 204 −74.340 54.372 6.544 1.00 37.69 C ATOM 1413 CG MET A 204 −74.396 55.111 5.207 1.00 38.00 C ATOM 1414 SD MET A 204 −72.765 55.434 4.526 1.00 43.75 S ATOM 1415 CE MET A 204 −72.183 56.718 5.647 1.00 37.85 C ATOM 1416 C MET A 204 −75.616 52.774 8.050 1.00 38.23 C ATOM 1417 O MET A 204 −75.112 51.705 7.756 1.00 37.19 O W268 ATOM 1922 N TRP A 268 −68.219 51.109 15.370 1.00 47.56 N ATOM 1923 CA TRP A 268 −67.677 52.005 14.348 1.00 45.78 C ATOM 1924 CB TRP A 268 −68.739 52.270 13.291 1.00 45.13 C ATOM 1925 CG TRP A 268 −68.357 53.246 12.204 1.00 43.55 C ATOM 1926 CD1 TRP A 268 −67.839 52.943 10.985 1.00 42.18 C ATOM 1927 NE1 TRP A 268 −67.675 54.092 10.233 1.00 42.09 N ATOM 1928 CE2 TRP A 268 −68.068 55.166 10.981 1.00 41.65 C ATOM 1929 CD2 TRP A 268 −68.523 54.669 12.226 1.00 41.19 C ATOM 1930 CE3 TRP A 268 −69.019 55.572 13.166 1.00 40.05 C ATOM 1931 CZ3 TRP A 268 −69.020 56.934 12.844 1.00 40.11 C ATOM 1932 CH2 TRP A 268 −68.556 57.383 11.611 1.00 37.27 C ATOM 1933 CZ2 TRP A 268 −68.075 56.521 10.668 1.00 38.37 C ATOM 1934 C TRP A 268 −67.222 53.323 14.970 1.00 44.95 C ATOM 1935 O TRP A 268 −67.865 53.860 15.872 1.00 44.19 O N315 ATOM 2306 N ASN A 315 −71.227 49.761 4.749 1.00 40.59 N ATOM 2307 CA ASN A 315 −70.284 50.857 4.563 1.00 41.14 C ATOM 2308 CB ASN A 315 −71.024 52.154 4.266 1.00 41.63 C ATOM 2309 CG ASN A 315 −70.157 53.156 3.545 1.00 43.78 C ATOM 2310 OD1 ASN A 315 −70.031 53.110 2.304 1.00 46.72 O ATOM 2311 ND2 ASN A 315 −69.560 54.068 4.302 1.00 40.92 N ATOM 2312 C ASN A 315 −69.408 51.017 5.814 1.00 40.93 C ATOM 2313 O ASN A 315 −69.894 51.381 6.884 1.00 40.18 O E316 ATOM 2314 N GLU A 316 −68.127 50.660 5.677 1.00 41.46 N ATOM 2315 CA GLU A 316 −67.164 50.727 6.760 1.00 41.62 C ATOM 2316 CB GLU A 316 −66.986 52.179 7.214 1.00 41.25 C ATOM 2317 CG GLU A 316 −66.448 53.059 6.071 1.00 42.20 C ATOM 2318 CD GLU A 316 −65.756 54.352 6.548 1.00 44.21 C ATOM 2319 OE1 GLU A 316 −65.948 54.784 7.716 1.00 42.48 O ATOM 2320 OE2 GLU A 316 −65.016 54.932 5.721 1.00 45.98 O ATOM 2321 C GLU A 316 −67.502 49.804 7.938 1.00 42.09 C ATOM 2322 O GLU A 316 −67.095 50.058 9.058 1.00 41.71 O W352 ATOM 2581 N TRP A 352 −67.648 52.263 −2.112 1.00 41.67 N ATOM 2582 CA TRP A 352 −66.601 52.653 −1.141 1.00 41.21 C ATOM 2583 CB TRP A 352 −67.128 53.711 −0.176 1.00 40.35 C ATOM 2584 CG TRP A 352 −66.179 54.141 0.893 1.00 39.63 C ATOM 2585 CD1 TRP A 352 −66.252 53.817 2.213 1.00 39.75 C ATOM 2586 NE1 TRP A 352 −65.204 54.378 2.897 1.00 40.38 N ATOM 2587 CE2 TRP A 352 −64.449 55.122 2.034 1.00 38.25 C ATOM 2588 CD2 TRP A 352 −65.029 54.989 0.750 1.00 39.45 C ATOM 2589 CE3 TRP A 352 −64.440 55.649 −0.333 1.00 40.99 C ATOM 2590 CZ3 TRP A 352 −63.301 56.414 −0.105 1.00 41.86 C ATOM 2591 CH2 TRP A 352 −62.747 56.531 1.208 1.00 41.59 C ATOM 2592 CZ2 TRP A 352 −63.329 55.906 2.283 1.00 37.94 C ATOM 2593 C TRP A 352 −66.076 51.463 −0.354 1.00 41.91 C ATOM 2594 O TRP A 352 −64.850 51.315 −0.169 1.00 41.99 O L383 ATOM 2835 N LEU A 383 −66.537 55.238 −6.137 1.00 42.27 N ATOM 2836 CA LEU A 383 −66.705 56.500 −5.439 1.00 42.36 C ATOM 2837 CB LEU A 383 −67.263 56.291 −4.018 1.00 41.85 C ATOM 2838 CG LEU A 383 −67.998 57.484 −3.399 1.00 41.25 C ATOM 2839 CD1 LEU A 383 −69.300 57.764 −4.106 1.00 38.16 C ATOM 2840 CD2 LEU A 383 −68.228 57.269 −1.903 1.00 39.98 C ATOM 2841 C LEU A 383 −65.442 57.304 −5.389 1.00 42.70 C ATOM 2842 O LEU A 383 −65.518 58.526 −5.385 1.00 44.13 O L407 ATOM 3032 N LEU A 407 −64.050 61.742 −5.815 1.00 39.89 N ATOM 3033 CA LEU A 407 −64.412 62.019 −4.434 1.00 38.85 C ATOM 3034 CB LEU A 407 −63.995 60.860 −3.522 1.00 38.31 C ATOM 3035 CG LEU A 407 −64.790 60.747 −2.218 1.00 37.58 C ATOM 3036 CD1 LEU A 407 −64.566 59.408 −1.557 1.00 37.21 C ATOM 3037 CD2 LEU A 407 −64.429 61.857 −1.265 1.00 36.81 C ATOM 3038 C LEU A 407 −63.746 63.303 −3.999 1.00 39.48 C ATOM 3039 O LEU A 407 −64.402 64.235 −3.501 1.00 39.34 O F410 ATOM 3058 N PHE A 410 −62.395 65.225 1.717 1.00 39.99 N ATOM 3059 CA PHE A 410 −62.817 64.542 2.948 1.00 39.83 C ATOM 3060 CB PHE A 410 −61.731 63.559 3.381 1.00 39.95 C ATOM 3061 CG PHE A 410 −61.527 62.416 2.397 1.00 41.94 C ATOM 3062 CD1 PHE A 410 −62.342 61.280 2.441 1.00 42.71 C ATOM 3063 CE1 PHE A 410 −62.178 60.252 1.541 1.00 43.59 C ATOM 3064 CZ PHE A 410 −61.196 60.343 0.566 1.00 45.30 C ATOM 3065 CE2 PHE A 410 −60.393 61.474 0.503 1.00 44.19 C ATOM 3066 CD2 PHE A 410 −60.577 62.504 1.402 1.00 43.71 C ATOM 3067 C PHE A 410 −63.099 65.538 4.062 1.00 39.11 C ATOM 3068 O PHE A 410 −62.400 66.536 4.219 1.00 40.24 O E446 ATOM 3306 N GLU A 446 −67.074 64.899 0.220 1.00 38.26 N ATOM 3307 CA GLU A 446 −67.708 64.782 1.525 1.00 37.13 C ATOM 3308 CB GLU A 446 −66.766 64.216 2.545 1.00 37.26 C ATOM 3309 CG GLU A 446 −66.578 62.728 2.332 1.00 37.69 C ATOM 3310 CD GLU A 446 −65.866 62.023 3.506 1.00 37.77 C ATOM 3311 OE1 GLU A 446 −65.311 62.692 4.410 1.00 35.63 O ATOM 3312 OE2 GLU A 446 −65.849 60.771 3.485 1.00 36.04 O ATOM 3313 C GLU A 446 −68.249 66.096 1.975 1.00 36.84 C ATOM 3314 O GLU A 446 −69.250 66.126 2.665 1.00 36.84 O H512 (multiple conformation) ATOM 3816 N HIS A 512 −57.589 64.956 2.697 1.00 48.45 N ATOM 3817 CA A HIS A 512 −57.747 65.169 4.147 0.25 47.54 C ATOM 3818 CA B HIS A 512 −57.775 65.235 4.112 0.25 47.92 C ATOM 3819 CA C HIS A 512 −57.818 65.254 4.107 0.50 47.86 C ATOM 3820 CB A HIS A 512 −57.341 63.926 4.993 0.25 47.44 C ATOM 3821 CB B HIS A 512 −57.691 63.950 4.974 0.25 47.96 C ATOM 3822 CB C HIS A 512 −57.825 63.956 4.950 0.50 47.78 C ATOM 3823 CG A HIS A 512 −58.136 62.663 4.772 0.25 45.45 C ATOM 3824 CG B HIS A 512 −56.484 63.081 4.723 0.25 48.37 C ATOM 3825 CG C HIS A 512 −58.634 64.042 6.220 0.50 48.03 C ATOM 3826 ND1A HIS A 512 −59.344 62.413 5.390 0.25 43.31 N ATOM 3827 ND1B HIS A 512 −56.559 61.703 4.745 0.25 48.69 N ATOM 3828 ND1C HIS A 512 −58.267 63.395 7.388 0.50 46.74 N ATOM 3829 CE1A HIS A 512 −59.765 61.201 5.068 0.25 42.02 C ATOM 3830 CE1B HIS A 512 −55.362 61.191 4.510 0.25 48.58 C ATOM 3831 CE1C HIS A 512 −59.156 63.651 8.327 0.50 45.69 C ATOM 3832 NE2A HIS A 512 −58.853 60.635 4.302 0.25 42.59 N ATOM 3833 NE2B HIS A 512 −54.509 62.184 4.346 0.25 47.79 N ATOM 3834 NE2C HIS A 512 −60.087 64.446 7.816 0.50 47.65 N ATOM 3835 CD2A HIS A 512 −57.814 61.518 4.121 0.25 44.11 C ATOM 3836 CD2B HIS A 512 −55.183 63.376 4.474 0.25 48.02 C ATOM 3837 CD2C HIS A 512 −59.790 64.698 6.500 0.50 46.26 C ATOM 3838 C HIS A 512 −56.726 66.257 4.538 1.00 47.82 C ATOM 3839 O HIS A 512 −55.558 66.131 4.192 1.00 47.68 O W649 ATOM 4943 N TRP A 649 −66.166 65.489 17.169 1.00 39.55 N ATOM 4944 CA TRP A 649 −67.015 64.568 16.383 1.00 39.46 C ATOM 4945 CB TRP A 649 −66.215 63.634 15.457 1.00 39.04 C ATOM 4946 CG TRP A 649 −66.897 63.337 14.165 1.00 37.97 C ATOM 4947 CD1 TRP A 649 −66.650 63.926 12.957 1.00 35.62 C ATOM 4948 NE1 TRP A 649 −67.446 63.378 11.993 1.00 35.74 N ATOM 4949 CE2 TRP A 649 −68.258 62.438 12.565 1.00 36.71 C ATOM 4950 CD2 TRP A 649 −67.939 62.379 13.933 1.00 36.95 C ATOM 4951 CE3 TRP A 649 −68.635 61.485 14.749 1.00 37.24 C ATOM 4952 CZ3 TRP A 649 −69.601 60.687 14.179 1.00 38.16 C ATOM 4953 CH2 TRP A 649 −69.893 60.765 12.804 1.00 35.66 C ATOM 4954 CZ2 TRP A 649 −69.237 61.636 11.992 1.00 37.43 C ATOM 4955 C TRP A 649 −67.920 63.805 17.313 1.00 40.16 C ATOM 4956 O TRP A 649 −69.127 64.062 17.349 1.00 40.14 O I655 ATOM 4989 N ILE A 655 −63.561 60.936 16.597 1.00 40.72 N ATOM 4990 CA ILE A 655 −62.948 61.129 15.284 1.00 40.83 C ATOM 4991 CB ILE A 655 −63.930 60.872 14.069 1.00 40.04 C ATOM 4992 CG1 ILE A 655 −64.975 59.796 14.389 1.00 40.23 C ATOM 4993 CD1 ILE A 655 −65.915 59.447 13.201 1.00 36.48 C ATOM 4994 CG2 ILE A 655 −63.133 60.469 12.818 1.00 37.05 C ATOM 4995 C ILE A 655 −62.386 62.553 15.221 1.00 41.27 C ATOM 4996 O ILE A 655 −62.730 63.344 14.325 1.00 41.22 O Y658 ATOM 5013 N TYR A 658 −61.544 65.417 12.255 1.00 37.64 N ATOM 5014 CA TYR A 658 −61.795 64.865 10.940 1.00 36.91 C ATOM 5015 CB TYR A 658 −62.614 63.570 11.021 1.00 36.40 C ATOM 5016 CG TYR A 658 −62.812 62.992 9.646 1.00 38.05 C ATOM 5017 CD1 TYR A 658 −61.865 62.134 9.087 1.00 36.67 C ATOM 5018 CE1 TYR A 658 −62.028 61.640 7.807 1.00 37.90 C ATOM 5019 CZ TYR A 658 −63.151 62.020 7.042 1.00 38.19 C ATOM 5020 OH TYR A 658 −63.305 61.547 5.755 1.00 36.46 O ATOM 5021 CE2 TYR A 658 −64.092 62.893 7.558 1.00 36.53 C ATOM 5022 CD2 TYR A 658 −63.925 63.366 8.858 1.00 38.89 C ATOM 5023 C TYR A 658 −62.509 65.873 10.050 1.00 36.66 C ATOM 5024 O TYR A 658 −62.201 65.974 3.866 1.00 38.05 O

TABLE 10 GLYCOSIDE HYDROLASE FAMILY 89 Known Activities: α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.50) Mechanism: Retaining 3D Structure Status: (β/α) 8 Catalytic Nucleophile/Base: Glu Catalytic Proton Donor: Glu Protein Name EC# Organism GenBank Uniprot PDB/3D Bacteria (31) ACP_3498 Acidobacterium capsulatum ATCC 51196 ACO33861.1 Amuc_0060 Akkermansia muciniphila ATCC BAA-835 ACD03906.1 B2ULB7 Amuc_1220 Akkermansia muciniphila ATCC BAA-835 ACD05045.1 B2URG0 AL1_27260 Alistipes shahii WAL 8301 CBK64878.1 BF0603 Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 ATCC 25285 CAH06355.1 Q5LHM5 BF0678 Bacteroides fragilis YCH46 BAD47426.1 BT4359 Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482 AAO79464.1/NP_813270.1 BT0438 Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482 AAO75545.1/NP_809351.1 BT3590 Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482 AAO78695.1/NP_812501.1 BVU_1860 Bacteroides vulgatus ATCC 8482 ABR39535.1 A6L1H1 Bcav_0303 Beutenbergia cavernae DSM 12333 ACQ78567.1 Bfae_05050 Brachybacterium faecium DSM 4810 ACU84374.1 CC0540 Caulobacter crescentus CB15 AAK22527.1/NP_419359.1 CCNA_00574 Caulobacter crescentus NA1000 ACL94039.1 Cpin_3125 Chitinophaga pinensis DSM 2588 ACU60593.1 α-N-acetyl- Clostridium perfringens ATCC 13124 ABG84150.1 Q0TST1 2VC9[A] glucosaminidase 2VCA[A] CPF_0859) 3.2.1.50 2VCB[A] 2VCC[A] CPR_0850 Clostridium perfringens SM101 ABG85709.1 Q0SUN2 α-N-acetyl- Clostridium perfringens str. 13 BAB80572.1 glucosaminidase BAI70446.1 (AgnC; CPE0866) NP_561782.1 Q8XM24 Fjoh_3128 Flavobacterium johnsoniae UW101 ABQ06145.1 A5FF78 Phep_3401 Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366 ACU05595.1 Phep_3402 Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366 ACU05596.1 Phep_3785 Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366 ACU05976.1 SARI_03139 Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae serovar 62: z4, z23: - RSK2980 ABX22979.1 A9MER3 SAML0573 Streptomyces ambofaciens ATCC 23877 CAJ89559.1 A3KIM5 SAV2014 Streptomyces avermitilis MA-4680 BAC69725.1/NP_823190.1 SAV5988 Streptomyces avermitilis MA-4680 BAC73700.1/NP_827165.1 SCAB_18501 Streptomyces scabiei 87.22 CBG68977.1 XAC0709 Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri str. 306 AAM35598.1/NP_641062.1 XOO3922 Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae KACC10331 AAW77176.1 XOO3702 (fragment) Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae MAFF 311018 BAE70457.1 Q2NZ20 XOO3701 (prob.fragm.) Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae MAFF 311018 BAE70456.1 Q2NZ21 Eukaryota (18) AgCG51100 Anopheles gambiae str. PEST EAA00039.1 α-N-acetyl- Arabidopsis thaliana AAL87291.1 glucosaminidase AAM51254.1 (NAGLU; At5g13690) BAB08696.1 BAD94027.1 NP_196873.1 Q9FNA3 AO090010000111 Aspergillus oryzae RIB40 BAE66022.1 (prob. fragm.) ORF (protein for Bos taurus AAI48148.1 A6QM01 MGC: 157257) CBG20846 (fragment) Caenorhabditis briggsae CAE73404.1 K09E4.4 Caenorhabditis elegans Bristol N2 CAB70170.2 NP_496948.1 Q9NAP6 α-N-acetyl- Dromaius novaehollandiae AAK73654.1 glucosaminidase (Naglu) AAK73655.1 Q90Z75 (lysosomal) Q90Z76 CG13397 Drosophila melanogaster AAF52672.2 AAL13967.1 NP_652045.1 Q9VLL5 α-N-acetyl- Homo sapiens AAB06188.1 glucosaminidase AAB36604.1 (Sanfilippo disease IIIB) AAB36605.1 (NAGLU) 3.2.1.50 AAC50512.1 AAC50513.1 AAH53991.1 ACM85779.1 BAD92767.1 NP_000254.1 NP_000254.2 P54802 Q14769 MICPUN_59291 Micromonas sp. RCC299 ACO64474.1 α-N-acetyl- Mus musculus AAB88084.1 glucosaminidase AAC26842.1 (Naglu) 3.2.1.50 AAH55733.1 AAM21194.1 BAE37639.1 BAE42009.1 CAM24462.1 NP_038820.1 O54752 O88325 ORF Nicotiana tabacum BRIGHT YELLOW 2 CAA77084.1 Q9ZR45 H0212B02.15 Oryza sativa Indica Group CAJ86183.1/CAJ86322.1 Os04g0650900 Oryza sativa Japonica Group B AF16009.1 CAE04506.1 CAE04506.2 Q7XMP5 VITISV_031934 (fragm.) Vitis vinifera CAN83148.1 A5BEA1 unknown (fragment) Zea mays ACG29992.1 unknown Zea mays B73 ACF81735.1 B4FHZ2 (ZM_BFb0134E13) (fragm.) unknown Zea mays B73 ACF79958.1 B4FCW5 (ZM_BFb0029M16) (short fragm.) 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of selecting or designing a α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) polypeptide binding compound, the method comprising: a) displaying the atomic coordinates of amino acids 134-658 as set forth in Table 3.1, Table 3.2, or Table 3.3 to form a three-dimensional structure of a first NAGLU polypeptide using a programmed computer; b) constructing a model of a second NAGLU polypeptide using the three-dimensional structure of the first NAGLU polypeptide as a template, wherein the second NAGLU polypeptide differs from the first NAGLU polypeptide in that the second NAGLU polypeptide has at least one amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication not present in the first NAGLU polypeptide; c) screening a binding compound that binds to the second NAGLU polypeptide in vitro, or in vivo for particular characteristics or desired properties; and d) selecting or designing the binding compound with particular characteristics or desired properties.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the position of the amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication of the second NAGLU polypeptide is first identified in the three-dimensional structure of the first NAGLU polypeptide, and wherein the amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication in the second NAGLU polypeptide is selected based on a known amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication that is associated with or leads to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B).
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the amino acid substitution, deletion, or duplication that is associated with or leads to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B) is selected from the group consisting of the amino acid substitution, deletion, or duplication as set forth in Table
 4. 4. A method of selecting or designing a α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) polypeptide binding compound, the method comprising: a) providing the atomic coordinates of a NAGLU polypeptide as set forth in Table 3.1, Table 3.2, or Table 3.3; b) displaying the atomic coordinates set forth in Table 3 to form a three-dimensional structure of a first NAGLU polypeptide; c) constructing a model of a second NAGLU polypeptide using the three-dimensional structure of the first NAGLU polypeptide as a template, wherein the second NAGLU polypeptide differs from the first NAGLU polypeptide in that the second NAGLU polypeptide has at least one amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication not present in the first NAGLU polypeptide; and d) screening a binding compound that binds to the second NAGLU polypeptide in vitro, or in vivo for particular characteristics or desired properties; and e) selecting or designing the binding compound with particular characteristics or desired properties.
 5. A method of identifying a drug candidate test compound for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B), the method comprising: a) displaying the atomic coordinates as set forth in Table 3.1, Table 3.2, or Table 3.3 to form a three-dimensional structure of a first NAGLU polypeptide using a programmed computer; b) constructing a model of a second NAGLU polypeptide using the three-dimensional structure of the first NAGLU polypeptide as a template, wherein the second NAGLU polypeptide differs from the first NAGLU polypeptide in that the second NAGLU polypeptide has at least one amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication not present in the first NAGLU polypeptide, and wherein the position of the amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication of the second NAGLU polypeptide is first identified in three-dimensional structure of the first NAGLU polypeptide, and wherein the amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication in the second NAGLU polypeptide is selected based on a known amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication that is associated with or leads to mucopolysaccharidosis III B (MPS III-B); c) selecting a test compound having the best fit with the NAGLU polypeptide comprising one or more amino acid substitution, deletion or duplication; and d) assaying in vivo or in vitro the ability of the test compound to modulate NAGLU enzyme activity, modulate stability and/or modulate intracellular trafficking of the NAGLU polypeptide comprising one or more amino acid mutations, wherein a test compound that modulates NAGLU enzyme activity, stability and/or intracellular trafficking of the NAGLU polypeptide comprising one or more amino acid mutations is considered a drug candidate compound for treating MPS III-B. 